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Sightings

30 April, 2013 21:15

30th April 2013
Had a really enjoyable morning on the reserve, my first in quite a while and what a superb day. Willow warblers were everywhere, good numbers of whitethroat, a few sedge and reed warblers singing and 5 blackcaps at the feeders – 3 males and 2 females. A chiffchaff was singing at the north end of the long pool and Lew said he had seen a lesser whitethroat on the fence by the fishing pool.
There seem to be a pair of dabchick nesting on the fishing pool. I watched one bird carrying weed and a second bird calling to it as it approached. The swan was on her nest close by with the male patrolling. A common sandpiper flew across the pool and I saw two more on the south end of the long pool, plus a drake merganser.
So much to see today: reed buntings back singing on the tops of bushes, meadow pipits displaying, skylarks singing above and linnets flitting amongst the scented gorse. It really seems as if spring is on its way at last.
Still very few flowers for the end of April: found a few wild pansies on the dunes and the tiny rue-leaved saxifrage on the dispersal pads.
Jenny