Nightingale, Turtle Doves & Dotterels

On Sunday 11th May, it was case of unsuccessfully dodging the sharp showers, at Lound along the causeway or Blue Doors Loke I heard the Nightingale again singing its beautiful rich throaty song from near the edge of the path just south of the water. Visiting Belton Common for the first time in ages, I couldn't find it a golf course was where I used to visit. Significantly there are two remnants left, east and west of the goldf course. Walking around here just past the horse paddocks and the scout hut, regular correspondent Paul W & I walked around and heard the wonderful purring of a Turtle Dove. Walking onto the Common just under the telegraph lines, I saw a wonderful Turtle Dove fly across from left to right and disappear in the southern most hedge row. Probably a different bird to the singing one heard a few moments ago. It's staccato flight, chestnut brown speckled back and white outer tail feathers clearly seen. Also seen were 2 singing male Yellowhammers, a singing Whitethroat and what appeared to be a very early Common Blue butterfly resting on a grass blade. Not seen however was a singing Garden Warbler heard only from within a dense bush. A trip in the afternoon to Easton Bavents and walking north along the beach I reached a gently sloping cliff edge field and saw the 3 fine Dotterels, on male and 2 females seen hunting for food in the ploughed field at mid distance, reasonably close. The male bird was seen closest of all while the 2 females were seen on the edge of the field or just over the ridge. The heavens then opened and we sheltered under the cliff face.