Sunday 15th April

It was a warm and sunny morning with a light mist over the Lake, between 6.20am and 8.45.

On my arrival along Laurel Walk, a dog Fox ran left over the road and into the area behind the Park & Ride. A Chiff Chaff and a Blackcap sang, and a Pheasant called from behind the Park & Ride. A Chiff Chaff sang from the Wet Woodland, and a Willow Warbler fed and sang from an Oak on the north side of ‘Mote House’ View. In the Long hedge were 3 Blackbirds, 2 Woodpigeon, 4 Robins, 2 Great Tit, a Chaffinch, several Blue Tits, 1 singing Song Thrush and a Chiff Chaff. Whilst standing on the Weir a Shelduck flew down on to the Lake, soon followed by a Cormorant, and a male Reed Bunting sang from the Hawthorn next to the Track. Just as I was about to make my way up the Weir Track a Common Sandpiper took flight from the muddy edge of the Lake, on the right of the track, fantastic. A Chiff Chaff sang from the Marsh Alders, and another in the Marsh Willows. In the Marsh was a female Reed Bunting perched on the top of a reed, calling. In the Scrub were 2 Song Thrushes, a singing Willow Warbler and a singing Common Whitethroat, first of the summer. 2 Song Thrush, 2 Robin, 1 Blackcap, 2 Blackbird, a Green Woodpecker, a Pheasant and 1 Chiff Chaff were in the East Hedge. A Pheasant called, and a Blackcap sang from Len Wood. A Grey Heron sat in an Alder by the Marsh.

A scan of the Lake produced 5 Great Crested Grebes, 3 Tufted Ducks and 7 Mute Swans, together with the usual Canada Geese, Mallard, Coots and Moorhens. There was a flock of Black Headed Gulls and Common Gulls also on the Lake. A Grey Heron flew over in a northerly direction.

The Little Owl perched in the Old Oak in ‘Mote House’ View throughout the visit.

On my way back a Swallow flew north over Jenner’s Bank, followed by 4 Herring Gulls. A total of 8 Chiff Chaffs, 9 Blackcaps, 1 Common Whitethroat and 2 Willow Warblers were singing throughout the visit. There were still lots of fry visible in the Len by the ‘Kingfisher’ Bridge.