Saturday 5th July

Blustery with showers this morning. At the sailing club there were 87 Canada Geese, 1 Greylag Goose and a couple of Cormorants. Over the main lake there were 19 Common Terns and at least 3 Grey Herons around the lake. On the south side of the lake a Chiffchaff was singing and the first singing Blackcap of the morning was by the Leat Pool. Good work on the pool Ed! An Oystercatcher was heard over Fenlake and then flying overhead and across the main lake, while trying to get a look at that another Heron was seen over Fenlake. Back at the main lake a couple of Lapwing passed overhead heading northeast. In the winter wildfowl zone a Blackcap was singing.

At the main lake hide a Terrapin swam past sticking it's head up to breath, a strange sight in a UK lake! The Moorhen nest by the hide was unoccupied and no sign of the adults nearby. Both Blackcap and Chiffchaff were singing behind the hide. On the small meadow on the southeast side of the lake a Carrion Crow was enjoying an egg for breakfast.

Carrion Crow

At the south east corner of the lake a Kingfisher flew across to Wolkholm and a second called from the lake side. From the Beach only four Mute Swans could be seen and the pair with the four cygnets were not among them, wonder where they are. Only four Great Crested Grebes this week.

The rain started again so I headed for Kramer hide. Another Kingfisher was heard around east Fingers. Green Woodpecker was heard over Kingsmead and Song Thrushes were singing at the end of the Canoe Slalom and on the south side of Fingers. At the hide just a couple of Grey Herons and 3 Mallards. A LBB Gull passed overhead. At least 2 Kingfishers present with one calling while a second flew past. On leaving the hide and heading along the Navigation Channel a couple of Blackcaps were competing, one near the hide and the other on the plantation along the NC.

Over on Kingsmead a young Carrion Crow was being fed by one of its parents. At the end of the NC a Sedge Warbler was singing. Crossed to the Long hedge and the Woodland Walk, a Green Woodpecker called and from the Woodland walk a Common Whitethroat was heard out on the New Meadow. Along the WW a Blackcap was singing. Out on the new Meadow by the gap through the Long Hedge, Bullfinch were heard and a Common Whitethroat was singing from the other side of the gap.

Heading into the Finger lakes at the Sedgewick Seat entrance a Chiffchaff was singing in the plantation. A Blackcap was singing in the Willows opposite. Another Common Whitethroat was singing in the Sheep Pen. The Rough was quiet with just a Song Thrush singing. A Chiffchaff was singing by the Dead Seat and another was further along the path down to the Steps. Reed Warblers were back and forth between the willows and the main path reed bed. On the corner of the main path and the Spit a Blackcap was singing with another along the Spit. Reed Warblers were singing in the Crescent.

On West Fingers there were 30 Mallards and the eclipse male Mandarin. The pair of Mute Swans were along one of the fingers but the cygnets were in cover so couldn't see how many. From the last fishing swim on the Spit a Cormorant and 4 Moorhen were seen and Reed Warblers were burbling in the fingers reed beds opposite. Back at the first fishing swim a Moorhen was feeding 2 chicks on the nest. On east Fingers there were 11 Mallards but no sign of the resident Great Crested Grebe family! Back at the car park another Blackcap was singing.