view from near the path junction
Arriving at the Reserve shortly before 9 o'clock on Wednesday morning, I immediately noticed the birdsong! Although Robins, Wrens, and Chaffinches were all singing heartily, it was the Chiffchaffs making themselves heard above all the others. Despite a weather forecast for cloudy skies, the sun did break through for a time which brought out a couple of butterflies. Here is my report:
Birds
SC209694 Magpie x 2 in tree; Chiffchaff by dragonfly pond; Goldfinch x 2 ; Chaffinch x 2; Pheasant heard not seen; Robin; Heron x 2 flying over calling; Mallard x 3 flying over; 2 x Buzzard overhead.
SC209694 ( hide) 2 x Mallard drake including 1 hybrid.
SC209693 Blue Tit; Robin; Mallard x 2 flying over; Woodpigeon x 2 on wires; Chiffchaff flew in from boundary near Church.
SC208694 Wren; male Chaffinch; Chiffchaff singing from firs; Woodpigeon; Great Tit; Blue Tit investigating nest box; 3 x Buzzard over adjacent field; Mallard x 2 flying over; Sparrowhawk flying over.
SC208695 ( feeders) Great Tit x 2; Blue Tit x 2; Robin; Goldfinch x 3; Chaffinch x 3.
SC208695 ( elsewhere) female Chaffinch; Goldfinches heard not seen; Woodpigeon.
SC209695 Goldfinch x 2; Blue Tit; Great Tit heard not seen; Woodpigeon;
Butterflies:
SC208694 Red Admiral flying.
SC209694 Peacock on wood chip path.
Other:
SC208694 Marsh marigolds in flower by boardwalk and stream.
57 varieties? 
Drake and Hybrid Mallards 
ringed female Chaffinch 
awaiting her turn on the feeders 
male Chaffinch in the willows 
Chiffchaff - hard to photograph against the sun 
one of three Buzzards circling overhead
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| Wren joining in the birdsong chorus |
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| Robin surveying the scene from on high |
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| Robin with Blackthorn blossom in background |
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| Blue Tit inspecting a "des res" |
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| Great Tit observing the feeders |
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| Goldfinch near the feeders |
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| Goldfinch elsewhere |
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| Peacock butterfly - it refused to turn round! |
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| Muscari near the gate - garden escape |
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| Marsh Marigolds near the new dam |
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| and by the boardwalk |
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| Bird Cherry in full leaf - will it get caterpillars this year? |
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| usual view of path near the reed bed |
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| usual view of hide - Hawthorns give clue to season |
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| view from the hide ramp |
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| through the shutters - Blackthorn in flower |
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| even the reed bed is drying out |
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| the mud flat increases week on week |
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| the damp meadow from near the bridge |
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| heading for the boardwalk |
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| view from the boardwalk - sun breaking through |
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| grass has received first cut of the year |
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| dragonfly pond |
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| new "beaches" in the shallows |
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| long & short grassy areas near Ginnie's Bench |
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| the reed bed near the willows |
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| can we expect different plants now there is more light under the willows? |
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| not all the daffodils were removed last year |
No Water Rail or Snipe this week but an enjoyable few hours nonetheless.
please click on photos to enlarge them
