Migrants.

Two Yellow Wagtails were near Retreat Farm and 15 Fieldfare were feeding in the cattle fields. A single Common Sandpiper was on the dam.

Easter on Sao Miguel, Azores.

 Plenty of photogenic BND,s were seen and also some frisky Common Dolphins.

 Mother and calf demonstrating the hour glass ID.

 A single Loggerhead turtle made a brief appearance.

 Cory's Shearwaters were common.

 I also spotted a small group of what I presume were Little Shearwaters.
 Typical down dropping wings and visible eye.

 On the trail of a large Rorqual. Tracking the Fluke prints!

 Fin whale blows off Ponta del Gada.

 A pod of Bottle nosed Dolphins.

 A Fin whale appearing rather grey and Blue whale like in colour. The large dorsal gives it away.

 Fin whale dorsal fins vary, but tend to be low and backswept.

 Fin Whale head and blow hole.

 Blowbow!

 Looking down the blow hole.

 Azorean Chaffinch seemed different to our birds, with less pink on the breast.

Hunted for the endemic Priolo ,but heavy rain halted our search. Both male and female look like a female Bullfinch. It resides in the laurel forests , which are being conserved. Found this image at the visitor centre, which was locked! My Sao Miguel bird list reached about 25. Corvo is the place to visit in October for Yanky vagrants.

Pair of Scoter.

A pair of Common Scoter were present on Saturday 4th April. There was also the first House Martins and Swallows, with a few Sand Martins.

Signs of Spring.

The well grazed fields near Retreat Farm held a flock of 34 Pied Wagtails. Several Chiffchaff were calling around the reservoir. I managed to catch one Chiff while ringing on the 2nd. It already sported a ring and was one I had rung in September. Up to 8 Buzzards were over Thornton Wood on the same date and had a Sparrowhawk and a Peregrine for company. A pair of Little Owl were seen enjoying the spring sunshine. A pair of Long tailed tits were noted close to their wonderfully constructed nest.

Back to Reality!

A single Sand Martin was over the res. on Tuesday as I struggled with jet lag.
Today three Chiffchaff were calling in the spring sunshine.

Tigers Galore!

 Just back from a long awaited trip to bag Tiger in India. We visited Pench and Kanha reserves and both produced sightings. First was a radio collared female.

 Next her two year old son, chilling out on a sand bar.

 At Kanha a female was seen with four well grown cubs.

 What you looking at?

 The cubs were rather nervous out in the open.

 A big male greeted us as we rounded a bend.

 We had a 50% success rate with tigers seen on five out of ten game drives. We saw nine different individuals.

 We have Naturetreks Tiger Direct Trip to thank.

 The same male was seen cooling off in a small pond.

 Cool Cat!

Shelduck Drop In.

 A pair of Green Woodpeckers were below the dam.

 On the 13th four Shelduck dropped in to have a rest.

 A pair of Herring Gulls are looking all "Loved Up" at the outflow.

 We don't often have Herring Gulls hanging around at Thornton. Indicates a change in behaviour.

 A Water Rail was feeding in the outflow stream. There was also, what I presume is another bird at the top end yesterday.