Osprey!! Easter Sunday - 05/04/2015

Yesterday's quick afternoon trip to BG Marsh added Spotted Redshank and Sand Martin to the year list. Today, an Easter Sunday lie-in and bacon and egg sarnie was enjoyed before I decided to chance a quick trip back down to Bowling Green Marsh where I had been yesterday to see if by chance the Osprey that had been reported in the early morning was still around. I was seriously glad I did because upon coming down the hill, I could see a silhouette of a bird on the perch that I had been told the osprey's favour when they pass through, and my pace quickened. From the hide I could see that it was indeed an osprey and the resident birders were showing some kids through their scopes. The Osprey was sat eating a big fish, but soon took off, catching a thermal that took it soaring above the hide before finally going out of sight.

I met Steve the SW RSPB Visitor Experience Officer, who kindly caught up with me as I left to make sure I didn't leave without the camera! There were 3 grey plovers huddled on the island, and plenty of waders still there after high tide, but with the sun against me I decided to head back up to pick up Jess, and we made our way to Berry head via Starcross, and Labrador Bay. At Labrador, I could see two distant cirl buntings through the scope, and at Berry head the sun had come out and we ate lunch watching rafts of guillemot out on the sea. There were no dolphins to be seen, but there were fulmar, shags and great black backed gull also in the area, along with a resident peregrine which we could see from the visitor centre camera.