27th April mid-morning

A dull, rather cold day with a stiff easterly - not what we've been used to lately. Fifteen or more Common Terns over the main lake and a Redshank west over. A this year's juvenile Cormorant sitting alone on a bouy near the sailing club. Perhaps twenty (or more?) House Martins along the east side and the crescent, hawking over the emerging reeds. Between fifty and eighty Sand Martins over the tree tops in 'fingers' at the same time. A pair of Swallows around the beach area. A few pairs of Blackcaps seen together and many more singing males, two Reed Warblers along the main path showed well, three Garden Warblers encountered but both the whitethroats were keeping low. Chiffs and 'Willies' trying to sing against the force of the wind. The 'fingers' GC Grebe now on a new nest, having been deposed by neighbouring Coots. Several Herons looking 'fed up'. Workmen were busy erecting the new fence around the 'long hedge' plantation.