Bank Hol 7th May

Rain all morning but eased just enough about 7.30 to allow some netting to be put up for the first Constant Effort Survey of the year. First bird out of the net was a male Norwegian Willow Warbler. Also "bagged" later - 6 Blackcap (4m3f), 3 Whitethroat (1m2f), 2 Chaffinch (2f), 2 Song Thrush (2m), 2 Chiffchaff (2f), 2 Bullfinch (1m1f), 2 Dunnock (2m), 1 Robin (m), 1 Long-tailed Tit (f), 1 Garden Warbler (f?), 1 Greenfinch (f).

Dawn Chorus

A few bleary eyed souls braved an early morning start to enjoy the dawn chorus guided walk this morning. Most of the regular birds did their bit with the notable exception being Cuckoo. The highlight was 2 Hobbies which put on a fine display along the navigation channel and over Kings Mead.

Following sustenance in the form of coffee and biscuits myself and Errol had another wander around the park and had a couple of Shelduck over and the elusive Cuckoos from earlier showed up at the sewage farm bridge along with a Grey Wagtail.

The walk back along the Cut turned up a number of Garden Warblers with a couple showing very well but the most numerous of the migrants seems to be Common Whitethroat at the moment with many singing from various locations around the park and along the Cut and one showing well with nesting material in beak!