Saturday 28th April

It started off quite cold but warmed up reasonably quick by the end of this morning’s visit between 6.15am and 8.20am.

Along Laurel Walk, 3 Goldcrests sang from the Yews, and, wow, a singing Nightingale – a first for me over the Park, fantastic. 4 Blackcaps sang from the top of Jenner’s bank. A Chiff Chaff sang from the Wet Woodland, and a Willow Warbler sang from an Oak in front of Mote House.

Of note in the Long Hedge were 2 Blackcap, 1 stunning male Bullfinch, 1 Common Whitethroat and 2 Chiff Chaff

As I approached the Lake 6 Barnacle Geese took off, circled the Lake and flew south – fantastic, another first. A Cormorant flew west. A scan of the Lake produced 6 Great Crested Grebes, and 5 Mute Swans, together with the usual Canada Geese, Mallard, Coots and Moorhens. The flock of Black Headed Gulls and Common Gulls on the Lake had a pair of Lesser Black-backed Gull with them. A Reed Warbler and a male Reed Bunting sang along the Lake’s western edge.

Another Reed Bunting sang by the Weir, and 2 reed Warblers sang from the Marsh. A Kingfisher and a Pheasant called from the Marsh, a Chiff Chaff sang from the Marsh Alders, and of note in the Scrub were 10 Common Whitethroat, and 1 Blackcap. A Swallow flow low over the Meadow, going north and 2 Pheasants called from Len Wood.

In the Marsh Hedge were 2 Chiff Chaff and 1 Blackcap, and in the East Hedge were 2 Blackcap, 1 Common Whitethroat, and 2 Chiff Chaff.

A total of 7 Chiff Chaffs, 15 Blackcaps, 3 Reed Warbler, 1 Willow Warbler, 12 Common Whitethroats were singing throughout the visit. 2 Speckled Woods were also seen.