Signs of spring ... a Chiffchaff sings its heart out ... winter migrants on the move, Wigeon and Whooper Swans ... Barn Owls that survived the easterly blast ...

My first summer migrant today ... a Chiffchaff singing constantly this morning from high in a beech tree by Campfield Scrape ... blue skies and barely a breath of wind made it feel much more pleasant than the 2 deg C. air temperature ...

On the Esk above Longtown Rooks were busy by their nests ...

... and several pairs of Oystercatcher looked territorial on the shingle ...

... but no sign of any Sand Martins ...

While on the move a small flock of Wigeon took off ... first against cloud ...

... then into the blue sky ...

... a Greenshank, probably an over wintering bird flew noisily upstream ...

... before turning to fly high overhead ...

Barn Owls had a hard time at Geltsdale with repeated heavy snowfall resulting in several fatalities but two foraged before sunset last week and seemed to be finding voles ...

The Walby Whooper Swan flock had only a single family party yesterday evening ...

... and the wintering Green Sandpiper showed well on the west pool there as the light faded ..