Not Avian, but still nice to see - Painted Lady in the garden and fields nearby.

A new month and migrants are still arriving. There were at least 50 Swifts and a couple of Sand Martins over Noah’s lake yesterday (May 1) and about 10 Swifts over Ham Wall this morning.  A single male Garganey, just one lingering Wigeon and several Snipe from Ham Wall VP1 early this morning. Juvenile birds seen so far were Great Crested Grebe, Coot Moorhen and Pochard. At least 8 different Marsh Harriers in Ham Wall.

I’m lucky enough to be able to take in Wavering Down as part of my exercise most days; I haven’t seen any Lesser Whitethroats yet, but there are plenty of Common Whitethroats, Stonechats, Blackcaps, Meadow/Tree Pipits, Willow Warblers and Chiff Chaffs to be found. Particularly enjoyed today’s walk after finding a Wheatear up there - my first since childhood, if not ever, so very pleased to see one so close to home.

In previous years I have heard and seen them along Heathway Lane and Honeygar Lane as well in my garden and small paddock in the village of Westhay. There is still plenty of time.

Hello Stephen, That is one of the species (LW) that I have failed to find so far around Westhay. We usually have a few and I will keep looking and listening. My hearing may be a factor!
I did manage to add Yellow Wagtail yesterday. Spotted Flycatcher and Sedge Warbler are others that I am searching for when I get to a suitable habitat.

Hi Brian waiting to see my first swifts in Frome.  If you would like to join a new Frome Birders Whatsapp group, please call me on 07968 729090.  Sorry if it’s not the right place to do this.
Also, short walk on Collier’s Way/Mells Down this evening; 2 Lesser Whitethroats; 1 Whitethroat; and a peregrine over my house in Central Frome.

Yesterday afternoon (Friday) sat in back garden in Frome with not much passing over scanned the sky through my bins and saw a large group of hirundines very high up with probably 12 or so Swifts in amongst them. Wouldn’t have spotted them with the naked eye. My earliest Swifts ever.

Think we must have had an influx of Hirundines into Ilminster this afternoon - quite a few Swallows and House Martins flying around.

Blackcap singing in the garden this morning.

Think the Swifts seen this morning were passing through.

House Martins spotted in Wedmore this morning whilst taking my daily exercise.

Another reward today for a long walk. Meare Heath: 4 or more Hobbys were circling the reedbeds. 8 Wigeon on the scrape. Ham Wall VP1: 2 male Garganey to the north along with 6 Blackwits and 4 Lapwings. The Garden Warbler I heard near Ashcott Corner a week ago was still on a prominent perch and singing well, several Whitethroats now around and at least 8 Great Egrets were seen. The only mystery was the lack of hirundines. I have not seen a Sand Martin since March and still no House Martins this year! Red Admiral and Large White butterflies and Large Red and Common Blue damsels also added to my year list.

No Dan, those must have been different birds as my sighting was between 11.15 and 12.00. I would think that there must have been a big overnight movement.

A group of at least 4 wheatear on our afternoon walk around Darshill, Bowlish & local farmland, Shepton Mallet today. Also one dipper, 2 jays, blackcaps, 2 great spotted woodpeckers, a singing skylark, & 2 red legged partridges in a field.

Interesting.  Cliff Smith reported 7 common terns at Torr Reservoir, Whatsapp message/picture was timed at 11.36 this morning.  Could that fit with the 7 that you saw?  He didn’t have any black terns.

We made our twice weekly walk from home in Westhay to Noahs Lake this morning and were rewarded by a Common Whitethroat, 7 Common Terns, 3 summer plumaged Black Terns, 2 Black headed Gulls that are not common in April, a Cuckoo (heard and seen) and a female Marsh Harrier. Also 3 Wheatear on Tealham yesterday.

My first reed warbler on the bank of the River Parrett just below Middlezoy Pumping Station

Delighted to see my first blackcap of the year this morning, singing away near Winscombe.