Bramfield church Hawfinch in Hertordshire.

A trip up the A10 to Bramfield church with the boys to look for Hawfinch, it's a place we visit at least once a year and nearly always comes up trumps with a year tick, and after a short wait and a walk down the hill to the row of bushes Brian spots a single Hawfinch amongst a large flock of Greenfinch and Yellowhammer.

As we get on the bird it flies over our heads and back to the church and settles on a tree for good views. A single male Bullfinch was also seen for the first one of the year.

Only being a few miles from Lemsford Springs it makes sense to get to watch the Sandpipers who always put on a good show here.

When we finally get into the reserve after waiting for people to return with a key to the gate, a bit annoying but that is the system they use here, and must say it's the first time it has happened to us, at the hide we find six Green Sandpipers plus four Snipe, Teal, Grey Wagtail, and two Little Egrets, this is just a nice place to spend some time just sitting and watching and the cameras are sure to get some good shots.

As we set off for home Brian asks if we want to go to St Albans for a Black redstart that had been seen in the picnic area of the Cathedral.

We struggle to find a parking place but after we do it is only a very short walk before we see a small group looking at a tree the cameras are clicking so bingo we are onto the Black-Redstart and get great views of a nice little bird.

Brian had heard about the Kingfisher who was posing well so set about finding it and after a tip-off from a birder he was off down the hill to the river, the bird was showing very well and we knew Brian was going to spend some time with this little stunner on the end of his camera.

The Black Redstart

One of the six Green Sandpipers seen.

Brian loved this little cracker.