Here comes the.....sun!!

Eeeek.....dont say it too loudly....but...the sun...wow....

1340 - 1610 WSW becoming stronger later, bright, clear, sunny with occasional overcast, cool

Well, the sun did shine so off I went for another look at the pits....admittedly I wasnt really expecting much due to the time, but it was nice go get out again.
The village was quiet by comparison to the other day when I managed a morning visit.  Starling, Collared Dove, Great Tit, House Sparrow and Goldfinch were present and a squeaky Robin joined in.
Off across the orchard a Blackbird was alarmed and Woodpigeons went overhead.  The usual Chaffinch was at the house.  A Green Woodpecker yaffled off somewhere out west.  A couple of Crows pondered by and a few Fieldfares rattled on.
Pied Wagtail was in the goods yard.
A nice bird to get, one I havent seemingly seen for a while, Stock Dove, 7 over SW with more singles during my visit.
In the north field 15 Mute Swan grazed.  As I wandered across the south field toward the north field more joined and by the time I had reached the pits there were 25.  My count on the way back was 31.
On the way across the fields I counted 2 Skylark singing.  2 on the way back as well.
A solitary Grey Heron was in the field with the Swans.  I found another 2 together on one pit and another veered crazily out of a stream.  4.  Nice.
A Kestrel battled against the wind, which had picked up quite a bit by now.  It seemed determined to head SW.
3 Herring Gulls went over S and a further 4 later.  A Meadow Pipit briefly peeped.
At the pits: 7 Mallard (+), 20 Coot (where have they gone?), 3 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Little Grebe, 30 Tufted Duck, 34 Black Headed Gull, 1 Common Gull, 4 Cormorant, 19 Greylag Geese.
2 Magpies I spied, the joy of the sunshine perhaps.  A solitary Long Tail Tit passed.  I later found a large group with some Great Tits and Blue Tits.
Whilst I was wandering along the pits I thought I heard the piping of a Greenshank?  It was out in the fields somewhere as I heard it again on the way back but I couldnt locate it.  A surprise indeed.  Very nice, bird of the day easily.
A Dunnock sang brightly.  2 Bullfinch wheezed in some scrub.  The usual Feral Pigeons were in their usual place at the quarry.
Heading back a Sparrowhawk flew across the field about 15" off the floor.  Fabulous. Another was flying high over the village when I got there and a Song Thrush blew a double tune-double tune.