Report from Roger Lane. (April 5th 2010)

Yes G.Prix was interesting, maybe not quite as good as the Australian GP, but worth getting up at the crack of dawn for (8am!). Met a Chris Hollyoaks at Pontsmill today, whom you met recently. A photographer of all and sundry, and reads your blog. So he knew me 'by proxy' as it were ! What other idiot would be sitting on a wall at Pontsmill under heavy cloud and wind ! Consequently I didn't see much, but the best of it is herewith:

E.Monday,5thApril.2010: Sat at Pontsmill under grey skies hoping the cloud would break, but no, thus not one butterfly. I did remember that a reliable member of the public I met yesterday, 4th, did say she had found her first bluebell higher up the incline, that day. Paper today says they are at least 3 weeks late this year ! ( Her's was an English bluebell, not the Spanish interloper).
Today, 5th, most of the 'usual' small birds were present, mostly residents and almost certainly on breeding territory, from Goldcrest up to Nuthatch and Dipper. A flock of c.30 Swallows was again feeding in leeward of valley sides. Larger fare seen included 1 x Kestrel (scarce here); 1 x Raven (breeding) and no less than 8 x Buzzards together (but no Sparrowhawk). Willow Warblers are also scarce at Pontsmill and I have NOT heard them there again this year.
Down to an overcrowded Par, sqeezed into the western car park just before the rain and managed to see: 6+ Gannets and 5+, Sand.Terns. Back at the PBPool (5pm) the heavy rain shower brought down c. 15+, Swallows and 5+, Sd.Martins, but still not a single House Martin. I presume the BTGodwit was hidden by visitors !

Thanks for the report Roger
Hello again to Chris.
It most certainly was not a butterfly day but you seemed to have bagged a good haul of birds at Pontsmill.