Summer's Here!

The recent mild weather with southerly air flows has seen the arrival of summer migrants earlier than I normally expect.  There has been a very early passage of House Martins, with single birds seen on several days since the first on March 26th and 2 together on March 31st.  I suspect that these are passage birds rather than local breeders, but it's difficult to tell whether I am generally just seeing a lingering bird or different birds passing through.  Yesterday, April 3rd, saw my first Swallows moving through.  Firstly a single bird in the morning, then 3 together and a further single in the afternoon.  All 5 birds were travelling either west or north west.  The only other summer migrant seen to date was a single silent Chiffchaff on March 29th moving through the trees.

Ever hopeful of seeing further migrants, I am always scanning the skies just in case.  Just after 3pm yesterday, whilst playing frisbee with the kids in the back garden, I glanced upwards and saw a very high flying raptor going due north.  Raptors flying in this direct manner tend to be interesting migrants rather than the local Red Kites and Buzzards that circle, meander, display, tumble etc.. By the time I'd grabbed my bins and located the bird again, I only had a quick distant glimpse before the trees got in the way, but I noted a long winged raptor with pale undersides and a distinctly bowed wing profile.  All these features are good for Osprey, of which one passed over the garden last August, albeit at a slightly lower altitude, but unfortunately on such a brief view, I cannot clinch the identification, so another one that gets away!