Bird watcher watching visits to the woods this morning and this afternoon were very productive. A Mervyn Lloyd in full plumage including Indian hat was an excellent sighting this morning as was a Tony Cross this afternoon. It seems likely that this activity is due to a recent sighting of a Mark Hughes (a regular, but fairly rare Spring visitor somewhat South of its more Northerly breeding area).
Unfortunately, such visits are probably doomed to failure as females of the species are rarely seen in the area, with those in breeding condition rarer still!
No sight (or sound) of the cuckoo or shrike this afternoon but a Green Woodpecker was a pleasant surprise. We appear to have a pair of Dippers nesting on our small stream which is a first in 12 years.