Tuesday 17th April

It was still rather warm and there was a light northerly breeze between 1.30pm and 2.45pm.

Along Laurel Walk 3 Coal tits sang from the Yews, and a Chiff Chaff and a Blackcap sang from behind the Park & Ride. A Chiff Chaff sang from the Wet Woodland, and a Willow Warbler sang from an Oak on the north side of ‘Mote House’ View. A Pied Wagtail walked about on the grass outside Mote House. In the Long hedge were 4 Blackbirds, 1 Robins, 3 Great Tit, several Blue Tits, and a Song Thrush. A Cormorant sat on ‘Cormorant’ Island and another flew onto the Lake. A Chiff Chaff sang from the Marsh Alders. A Reed Warbler sang from the middle of the Marsh and another sang from the reeds along the Lake’s eastern edge, the first ones of the year. In the Scrub were 2 Song Thrush, 1 Blue Tit and a Common Whitethroat, who on my arrival commenced singing from the top of a Hawthorn. A Pheasant called from the Meadow and another called from Len Wood. 2 Chiff Chaff sang and the sound of a drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker were heard from Len Wood. 2 Grey Herons fished along the Len.

A scan of the Lake produced 5 Great Crested Grebes, a pair of 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, plus 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull also on the Lake.

2 Song Thrushes and 3 Blackbirds fed on the grass on Jenner’s Bank. A total of 7 Chiff Chaffs, 5 Blackcaps, 1 Common Whitethroat, 1 Willow Warbler, and 2 Reed Warblers were singing throughout the visit. There were still lots of fry visible in the Len by the ‘Kingfisher’ Bridge, and during the visit the following butterflies were seen: 2 Small White, 2 Orange-tipped, 1 Peacock, 1 Holly Blue, and 6 Speckled Wood.