Slow slow slow

It continues to be impossibly slow here. Another weekend has passed with barely any migration. I still haven't seen a Swallow! Friday had an unexpected Woodlark silently north but seen well by a few of us, and on Saturday a couple of Yellow Wagtail in the space of two minutes livened up a three hour vigil momentarily. With overnight rain on Saturday into Sunday I was out again this morning, but other than a couple of Rook nothing happened.  Others had a couple of Wheatear later on, but honestly this is appalling for mid-April. Realistically we have a two or three more weekends and then that is it until the autumn. It is as bad as I can ever recall.

In the absence of anything else to do I have been counting and photographing Parakeets. At this time of year they feed on the ground close to where I live, pecking tender shoots from the short grass. There have around 100 early in the morning, coming down in flocks and then flying off as one when spooked before resettling. Desperate times.