Many of our summer visitors have arrived in the last few days, with swallows, house martins, common terns and a range of warblers now being seen. In fact, nine of the ten warbler species that bred here last year are already represented. We are waiting for our first lesser whitethroat, which must be imminent, as members of the RSPB local group from Brighton & District came to us this afternoon after spending the morning at the RSPB's Hope Farm, where one lesser whitethroat was heard. That is just a few miles away.
Several visitors heard a cuckoo here today, and a lucky few saw one. Three volunteers and I finally heard one at the end of the afternoon, the first of 2012 for all of us, so, despite the April showers, we all went home with smiles on our faces.