Signs of spring at last........maybe

It's now Sunday May 1st and it looks like a change to spring weather may happen this week. The birds haven't waited for the change and below is a Willow Warbler singing, Marsh Harriers already nesting, and a lonely Lapwing with a nest probably doomed to fail.

A Willow Warbler high in a tree near the cafe at Murton NR, it's one of three singing in the area and further down the path network around the reserve a pair of Lesser Redpoll are nesting in the scrub

Marsh Harriers, the male above the female has just delivered a small yellow bird which the female has caught in flight. I hope it wasn't the Channel Wagtail which had been seen on the previous two days but not on Saturday when I was there (of course)

The only photo I managed to get of a Buzzard near to the road at Magungie House near Arbroath. My camera just doesn't like the vibration of my car running even though it's being handheld

A Lapwing taking a brief break from nest duty at Murton between sitting and chasing off crows. The lack of nesting opportunities resulting in few pairs nesting is likely to mean most of the few nests will be predated. The Black-headed Gulls haven't yet given up trying to nest on the main pond but the water levels are now as high as winter and there are no islands to nest on