20th April

A cool, cloudy start today but up to 26C in the afternoon.

Nothing on Lairiere plains in the morning except for a female hen harrier which was being pestered by crows as it sat on the ground. A golden oriole was calling in the distance near La Tache.

St Mary's forest was more rewarding later in the morning. Lots of cuckoos calling, perhaps as many as 6. Two pair of bullfinch were together in a tree and showing themselves very well.

In exactly the same area of the forest where I had located them in previous springs, 2 woodlark were singing.

Whitethroat and blackcap were plentiful and there were a few chiffchaffs, long tailed tits and firecrests.

I watched a pair of treecreeper which prseumably were short toed but they were very cleanly white below without the usual buffish flanks. I did not hear them call.

Butterflies were vittually absent but a marten walked across the road in front of me.