17C Odd cloud but otherwise sunny calm day, warm, SE wind building later.
10:00 > 14:00
Second visit of the day and a pleasant few hours spent covering all areas in the valey.
The highlight was a first for the site and a lifer for me in a Hawfinch.
Scanning the water for waders something 'not quite right' came into my view on my left flying along Back Brook at willow height. Flying quite direct and fast it finally came into the open for the last fifty yards or so before hitting the bank of older taller trees above Godwit Corner. Stocky, and large for a finch, burnt orange in colour and with a gleaming platinum beak it could only be one thing even though i'd never seem one before in my life. Luckily I refound it seconds later up high in the canopy for another few glimpses at rest to confirm ID of Hawfinch. It may still be there but I spent a fruitless three quarters of an hour trying to relocate.
Also on site the Common Redstart still remains up on the Ridge a week since it was first sighted. Down on the water a single Green Sandpiper and a dozen Lapwing represented the waders whilst a single female Shoveler and a pair of Teal were of note. The odd behaviour of the day came from the flock of 30 or so Canada Geese doing an odd mock chase then completely submerging themselves under the water for a few seconds. Never noticed anything of the kind before but then 'Cango's' are not birds I've taken too much interest in.
Along the Ouse two family groups of Mute Swans with two and five signets respectively and over the bridge amongst the Hops growing wild more Speckled Wood butterflies than you could shake a stick at alongside a passing Red Admiral or two.
As for birds of prey a lone high Hobby and a Sparrowhawk in vain trying to disrupt the House Martins over the river were sighted, unfortunately though death stalks the valley as one of the Common Buzzards was lying dead under a hedgerow.
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