A further visit to Exmoor yesterday was much more productive as apart from some crack-of-dawn mist around Dunkery it was a flawless spring day.

Observations:-

Dunkery Area:  1 Ring Ouzel (in flight early am heading north), 8 Golden Plover, 2 Dartford Warblers, 5 Whinchat, 2 Stonechat, 3 Grasshopper Warblers, one almost at the head of the beacon & higher than previously observed.  At another site where I suspected a nesting pair one of the birds (female) seemed to have a very deep rattle to the much shortened version of their “song”.  The male however was in full cry almost constantly around 0800 perching on bush tops and heather. 

Webber’s Post: 1 Cuckoo, 1 Dartford Warbler, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Garden Warbler.

Weir Water:  4 Whinchat, 1 Dipper, 1 Cuckoo, 4 Lesser Redpoll around the car park,  2 Redstarts, 1 Raven. Also a good presumed passage of Swifts, Swallows and House Martins

East Water: 3 Pied Flycatcher, 1 Wood Warbler

Horner Woods: 10+Pied Flycatchers, 2 Wood Warbler, 2 Redstarts

More hirundines on territory compared to my last visit.

A productive day despite the cool weather :

Haddon Hill - no sign of any crossbill sp. in the early morning drizzle (the Two-barred was seen later evidently) - 3 Tree Pipit, 1 Cuckoo, 2 Redstart, 1 Raven, 2 Lesser Redpoll, 1 Green Woodpecker

Dunkery Area; 1 Dartford Warbler singing and song-flighting in an area where they have been absent for several years, also 2 Stonechat

Chetsford Water: 3 Whinchat, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Stonechat

Horner Woods: 3 Dipper including a ringed juvenile, 1 Grey Wagtail, 9 Pied Flycatchers, 4 Wood Warbler, 2 Redstarts

East Water: 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Grey Wagtail

Plenty of Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff & Blackcap but very few hirundines including regular colonies in farm buildings on Exmoor.