Not much in the valley in recent days apart from a handful of Chiffchaffs, so a Water Rail near the Deer Park gates was even more of a treat this afternoon.
A good walk around the Deer Park and then to Marloes Mere this morning produced a lovely group of 6-7 male Wheatear at the end of the Deer Park. The Stonechats have also returned in the last 2-3 days with males and pairs taking up territory. The last two years have really shown me that most Stonechats around here are migrants, with the hard winters taking a heavy toll of those birds that remain resident; the sudden influx in spring is then very noticeable.
The drake Pintail on the Mere is a very active bird and real treat. We missed the Marsh Harrier, but thoroughly enjoyed two very vocal Peregrines displaying, and putting up all the gulls on the fields in the process. One gull that subsequently landed back on the Mere looked to me to be a candidate for a 3W Yellow-legged Gull, with the black bill ring, relative lack of "mirrors" on the folded primaries and almost white head. Possibly worth watching out for if you are a larophile!
