Mixed fortunes for migrants

The very warm weather earlier this month was clearly beneficial for the arrival of migrants onto my patch, and indeed, in the wider country.  The first migrant of note was a male Ring Ouzel on 6th April at North Pickenham, this was one of my target species for that particular day.   Returning breeding birds which benefitted from the brief warm spell included Blackcap, but especially Lesser Whitethroats, my first being seen on the patch on 16th April with many more singing males seen and heard to date.
Probably the most unexpected migrant was a Nightingale at Lynford on 9th April, this bird was seen in relatively open habitat and overflying large clearings with some sense of urgency.  The same day saw my first Swallows and House Martins at Lynford.

Lesser Whitethroat at Little Cressingham 22nd April.  Many present since the first on 16th April

Many suitable habitats were checked for Willow Warbler, however, the first singing birds were not noted until 19th April, a good two weeks later than usual.
A visit to Croxton Heath on the 21st April was productive for Willow Warblers with many singing birds as well as a pair seen and heard with the female nest-building.  Also on the 21st at Croxton Heath my first Garden Warbler, a singing bird, was located in a small patch of Birch, Bramble, and Bracken scrub, quite an early bird.
Perhaps the most worrying dearth of records are that of the Whitethroat.  My first Whitethroat was a sub-singing bird at Little Cressingham on 22nd April, since that date, only a handful of records have been gathered with the most recent birds (2 singing males) being seen at North Pickenham yesterday, the 27th April.  I have checked many traditional Whitethroat sites with none present, patches of bramble and scrub appear so empty without this gorgeous bird.  Thoughts have been passing through my head of the significant crash in Whitethroat numbers in 1968/69 following the severe drought in the Sahel region of Africa where our Whitethroats go to winter.  I sincerely hope these are just thoughts, I can't wait to see this Warbler back in force on our commons and hedgerows.