Amwell

It's been nearly a month since my last post. The viral infection I acquired in early February has proved to be very hard to shake off and seems to flare up on a regular basis. I had assumed from the doctors diagnosis that what I assumed was a flu like infection would eventually go, and while things have been pretty good of late I still get a few bad days. One of the guys at work has been diagnosed with walking pneumonia which more or less fits what Ive had and if that's the case it could be months before it finally goes. Mind you I get all sorts  of problems like this throughout  the year, maybe its best to blame the company and the working environment. The really annoying thing is that there have been some weekends where I have been feeling pretty good, but the weather has been appalling with gale force winds, heavy rain etc and it just hasn't been worth going out at all.
This morning it was lovely and sunny, the gales of the previous days had finally gone, and I felt up for a few hours out, so I went to Amwell. Being a Sunday, the usual gathering was present and I had a long chat discussing my medical problems with John Bartlett  as we walked up to the viewpoint. Unfortunately we had missed the Sand Martins and the Swallow (probably the earliest ever for the site) and passage birds had pretty much dried up by 9am. The Oystercatcher pair were back on the island-these were the only waders present, even the resident Lapwings seemed to be missing. As expected with the sunny conditions and the northerly breeze, there were plenty of raptors up with at least four Kites, eight Buzzards and a pair of Sparrowhawks. Lots of Jackdaws and Carrion crows over the woods, but no sign of the Ravens today.
After everyone went off for the Sunday walkabout I went down to the south end with Dave Booth as Graham White had mentioned that the red-head Smew was still around, but unfortunately we couldnt find it, presumably it was hiding behind the island. In fact, apart from one Goldeneye and about seven   Teal, there weren't many winter duck remaining. Signs of spring included several nice patches of Coltsfoot, shoots of Dog Mercury and less welcome perhaps well over a 100 Black Headed Gulls (and only two rafts for them to nest on this year).
When I returned, I carried on to Hollycross, picking up three singing Chiffchaff, one Muntjac and one Stoat, and on my return through the picnic area a few lingering Siskin were still around. I assume that the Redpolls had already gone. By now, the sun had gone and there had been a few hail showers, so I decided to call it a day.