High pressure continues

With warm dry weather and largely clear skies continuing, spring passage on the ground was much reduced at Staines Moor today. 5 Lesser Whitethroat and a Cuckoo were my first of the year but both have been reported over the last few days, a female Ring Ouzel (first reported two days ago) was my third at the moor this spring and 11 Northern Wheatear (5 male, 6 female) were still at the north end.

Skywatching was better, producing 1-2 Hobby (N then S), a Red Kite over NW at 11:30 (1st photo) and 2 Common Buzzard N at midday (2nd photo) - all high up, along with 1 Yellow Wagtail over W, 8 commic tern E, 12 Sand Martin, 1 House Martin, 5 Barn Swallow and a few Skylark.

Red Kite

Common Buzzards

Skylark

Also noted were 10 Blackcap, 6 Sedge Warbler, 2 Reed Warbler (heard only), 6 Chiffchaff, 7 Common Whitethroat, 2 Cetti's Warbler (heard only), 2 Redshank, 2 Egyptian Geese and 1 Little Egret along the Colne, 4 Lapwing harassing the Carrion Crows and 6+ Shelduck. The highlight of the day for me though was this fantastic young Grass Snake (photo below). Stanwell Moor added 2 Gadwall.

Grass Snake Natrix natrix