Sunday April 9th

Hazy, blue and warm this morning. The Gorge looks its best under these conditions. At Sea Walls I was able to spot through binoculars a small group of redshank on the mud. Some motor boats scared the birds from the mud - revealing a much larger number than I had thought were present, it must have been 30+. The ravens were more visible on their nest this morning; the size of a raven relative to a crow was brought home by seeing one of them being harassed by a local crow! Otherwise, a couple of green finches, and some other small birds, probably chaffinches. Recognising birds 'on the wing' is tricky. Artists, from Bewick to the present day, usually show the animal sitting in a convenient pose rather than in flight.