Monday 5th May (Coot wars and an Otter)

And then there were none, Black Terns that is. Not a single one left this morning and Common Terns had moved back in, just 10 though when I counted first thing. The resident pair of Mute Swans were present with one on the nest on the island. The Common Whitethroat was still singing from the island. There seem to have been an influx of Reed Warblers. There were four in the southwest corner of the main lake, another on the south side next to a Sedge Warbler, another good opportunity to compare and contrast the songs. Others were in the reed bed next to the main lake hide. A few Chiffs and Blackcaps were singing but seemed a little subdued compared to previous mornings. This was confirmed by DK who mentioned that he thought the Blackcaps weren't singing this morning.

A quick look over to Fenlake revealed a Shelduck sat on top of the hay bales by the lake. It's getting much harder to see anything over there as the vegetation gets thicker by the day.

At the crescent the Reed Warblers were singing strongly, very difficult to pick out individuals now. Apparently when DK went down the Spit, first thing, the Reed Warblers were singing but on his way back it had gone completely silent! There were 3 Coot on east Fingers and another on west Fingers, more Reed Warblers were singing from the west Fingers reed beds. The Mute Swans were present with one on the nest and a couple of Cormorants also. While scanning west Fingers, from the end fishing swim on the Spit, an Otter swam out of one of the fingers and across towards the gap to east Fingers, diving a couple of times and leaving it's characteristic bubble trail behind. The Great Crested Grebe was still on the nest, the other was on east Fingers. Heading back along the Spit another pair of Coot were seen on east Fingers heading straight towards the other pair in the south east corner. As usual an almighty fight broke out:

Coot wars

So six Coot on Fingers but then another 2 at Kramer hide so suddenly up to 8 on Fingers seemingly over night! Also at Kramer hide a Muntjac showed well, on the right hand reed bed, while feeding off the lower Willow branches.

Muntjac

The Rough was very quiet with Blackcaps in sub-song and refusing to do anything more. The usual Chiff was still singing along the path between the Steps and the Rough gate. A Cuckoo flew over calling as he went.

At the Sedgewick Seat a couple of Blackcaps finally broke into song, a Chiff was singing and 2 Treecreepers were seen. Some odd drumming was heard and had I not been tricked by the Green Woodpeckers earlier this year I may have been off on a futile search for Lesser Spot again. But having learned my lesson I suspect this was another Green drumming on the nest box at the Sheep Pen, it sounded very similar to the one that was drumming near the Beach, short fast bursts.

Up at the STW reed bed 4 Sedge Warblers were seen/heard but today a Reed Warbler was also singing up near the bridge, and seen briefly at the edge of the reeds.

Cutting through the Long Hedge, a couple of Blackcaps were heard along with another Chiff. I skirted the north side of the New Meadow and came across a couple of singing Willow Warblers in the hedge, while another Chiff and Green Woodpecker were heard along the Cut. Another Willow Warbler was singing by the car park, no Lesser Whitethroat today though. Commons were heard by the gap from the New Meadow through the Long Hedge, to the Navigation Channel, with at least 2 singing in the area.