In true Bank Holiday style, it rained today, not exactly a downpour but at least it did rain. The gardens really could do with two or three days of constant rain but I’m not convinced we are going to get it - the clouds are already breaking up and the sun is trying to come through.

Before the rain did arrive this morning I managed to get a few hours of birding in - a trip to Ambaston Gravel Pits, Willington Gravel Pits and Etwall Farm.

Apart from just being out in the fresh air, the highlights were… Ringed and Little Ringed Plover; Common Tern; Cuckoo; Green Woodpecker; Great Spotted Woodpecker; Yellow Wagtail (3 superb males); Sedge Warbler; Common Whitethroat and, the best bird of the morning, a single male Garganey.

As usual, I took the camera out for a walk too…

"Waste ground" at Ambaston.

Dandelion clocks.

Hawthorn flowers.

A slightly out of focus Common Tern.

Bluebell flowers.

A Reed Bunting, trying to hide!