Dawn Chorus and beyond

What a beautiful morning for the dawn chorus walk. Despite the ungodly hour it was well worth tearing myself from the bed. Nothing spectacular although the Turtle Dove, purring in the Rough, was the first time I managed to catch up with this bird this year. The various warblers each put in an appearance, except Sedge, to allow the newbies to get to grips with each song. Good views of Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Common Whitethroat and Reed Warbler were obtained with Garden Warblers particularly numerous. Lesser Whitethroat and Treecreeper were seen briefly near their respective nest sites. A good number of Jackdaws and Crows left the roost first thing. Kingfisher put in several fleeting appearances although few others managed to spot them, the forewarning piping call giving the more experienced watchers the chance to spot them before they zipped by. It's more difficult to see them in the park at the moment as they are sitting on eggs but in a couple of weeks or so they should be out and about collecting food for the young back in the nest. On the main lake 11 Mute Swans were still causing the resident male some grief but relief was at hand later when five left, giving him much better odds of chasing off the remainder. Three Gadwall (2m1f) were also on the main lake with the pair decamping to fingers leaving the lone male to his feeding. Common Terns came in early but still only around a dozen or so at the moment, no Black Terns this weekend. 4 Black-Headed Gulls flew over north and a couple of LBB Gulls flew over west later. A few hirundines were present mainly Swifts and Sand Martins.

Post coffee and biscuits EN, partner and myself walked to Fishponds and back ticking off Redshank (2), Lapwing and Sedge Warbler in the process. EN had another Turtle Dove over on Fenlake, no sign of the Shelduck this morning.

Following on from that I walked, across the New meadow, and along the Long Hedge to the STW entrance and looked out across 100 acre. A pair of Common Terns were sat by the waters edge and 3 Lapwing were present, 2 displaying and another sitting tight (on nest?). A cuckoo was singing from further downstream on either Riverside or 100 acre. Common Whitethroat and Goldfinch were also about and Starlings passed to and fro between the STW and Riverside. A Mute Swan is nesting on Riverside just downstream from the Cut and Reed Warblers seem to have taken over the STW reed bed although odd Sedge Warblers can still be heard.

Cutting through the Long Hedge Chiffchaff and Blackcap were singing strongly, Common Whitethroat and Willow Warbler were singing in the plantations and around the northern edge of New Meadow.

All in all a good morning, makes you wonder why you don't get up that early more often! If you you couldn't drag yourself out of bed that early, join us for the guided walk, next Sunday, at a much more reasonable 08:30.