WHISKERED TERN in Hampshire this evening

Noticed this sitting on a marker buoy, very distant off Gilkicker/Stokes Bay car park, at 18:38. Viewed on maximum zoom of my scope and light wasn't good so I phoned Dan Houghton for a second opinion, and he came over pretty speedily, was happy my ID was correct, so we then put the news out. As the light faded it was actually easier to see the plumage tones. Apologies to those who arrived too late, just after it flew off! It seemed very happy but was pushed off by a gull and flew off east at 19:23. I presume it had been there when I arrived at 18:15. A tiny bird, Little Tern sized when perched, but all black cap just extending over eye, strongly demarcated white cheeks, dark grey body with darker belly and v. short legs. Bill seemed all black. Potentially it could roost in the Solent overnight and fly past Hayling tomorrow morning! Also one probable RT Diver, 14 Sandwich Terns, 26 Whimbrel and 3 commic terns on the same buoy in near darkness when we left  (John Norton)

WOODCHAT SHRIKE in ESSEX - 2nd day

The adult male WOODCHAT SHRIKE was showing extremely well this afternoon, favouring the hedgerow that runs north from the Rettenden Turnpike roundabout at the junction of the A132 and A130. On occasions, it was 'singing' from the hedgerow but mainly kept catching Bumblebees in the flowering Blackthorn scrub and sitting for long periods after regurgitating pellets....


There is ample roadside verge parking at 9 degrees 33` 37.80` E, 51 degrees 37` 50.86` N

Other than the fact that it is singing, the black upperparts (rather than grey), restricted white forehead patches, dark rufous-chestnut crown and warm flushed flanks all support the fact that it is a male

A beautiful bird and an impressive find

With near gale force and very humid winds and weather blowing up from the Southwest of Europe on Friday, the weekend saw a remarkable run of early spring arrivals, with an additional 19 species pushing the annual tally of birds recorded in Britain and Ireland to 298 species - the highest number ever achieved by the first few days of April.
The latest additions are as follows -:

1) LEACH'S STORM PETREL (an exceptionally early individual windblown inland to Theale GP in Berkshire)

2) PURPLE HERON (two individuals in the Southwest - on Scilly and in Cornwall)

3) BLACK STORK (a very early individual flew NE over Scilly on 2 April and was seen making further headway NE in Somerset on 3 April)

4) Hobby (unusual number of very early migrants)

5) Wood Sandpiper (exceptionally early migrant in Cambs on 2 April)

6) Little Tern (several seen along the South Coast)

7) Common Cuckoo (25+ already arrived - extremely early)

8) ALPINE SWIFT (1-2 mobile individuals on the east coast and another in County Cork)

9) EUROPEAN BEE-EATER (two ridiculously early vagrants - in Cornwall and in Norfolk)

10) WRYNECK (two seen over the weekend in the Southwest)

11) GREATER SHORT-TOED LARK (one at Portland Bill on 3 April)

12) RED-RUMPED SWALLOW (the first to arrive was in West Cornwall)

13) RED-FLANKED BLUETAIL (an exceptional spring female at Durlston Head, Dorest, on 2-3 April)

14) Common Redstart (widespread arrival)

15) Grasshopper Warbler (very early reeler in Norfolk)

16) Western Reed Warbler (Radipole Lake recorded its first on 1 April)

17) WESTERN SUBALPINE WARBLER (a male in North Lincolnshire on 3 April)

18) Common Whitethroat (a few early arrivals on the South Coast)

19) Garden Warbler (exceptionally early male in Cambs)