Monday 20th April 2009

I arrived after the mist had lifted ( RAC had 2 BARN SWALLOWS and a HOUSE MARTIN earlier) and had a very enjoyable 10 minutes doing a vis mig watch from the Star Monument

Pride of place goes to the 1st COMMON TERN of the year, that blasted thru high South , it had obviously been to Furzton before as it didnt fancy stopping ;-) , however the Warblers tried a come back , the car park held at least 2 Singing BLACKCAPS, 1 CHIFFCHAFF ( first of the year ) and best of all a rattling LESSER WHITETHROAT ( again 1st of the year ). A large female SPARROWHAWK also passed overhead and 1 BARN SWALLOW headed east.

A census of the visible Grey Herons Nests were as follows

Wooden Island Nest 1) - 2 Well Grown youngsters
Island 2 Nest 1 ) - 4 Well Grown youngsters
Island 2 Nest 2) - 2 Nearly Fledged Youngsters

I didnt check the other 2-3 nests , I will do that this afternoon.

After Saying how hard ROOK was to connect with yesterday , one flew over the lake today within 10 seconds of my arrival , did i mention how hard Purple Sandpipers and red Throated Divers are to find there ;-)

8 Great Crested Grebes, including 2 pairs displaying

Cheers

FB