Count the Warblers

0400 - 0845 light SW breeze to start picking up to F1-2 later, cool, clear, little cloud

Exiting the car a little earlier than yesterday I was pleased to hear Blackbird and Robin, but just one of each, so I had nearly beaten them.  However, within a couple of minutes more of each had joined in, though no Song Thrush at this point.
Heading out in to the gloom of the orchard and the relative quiet a distant Skylark could be heard as could several Pheasant and the now usual Cockerel.  The sky held a good herringbone display.

A Turtle Dove was a surprise on the northern boundary of the orchard, with another briefly calling at the pits.
Nightingale (10 definately, possibly 12 on site) could be heard off to the west and a distant Coot on the pools.  Woodpigeon joined the throng as did Reed Bunting.  Way out east a Cuckoo sounded off and continued non stop all morning, shifting around the site from east to west and north to south.
Mallards quack-quacked and a Mute Swan glowed white.  Whitethroat (34) was quick off the mark as the sun continued to climb, though still very much out of view.  Some Moorhens joined in with Sedge and Reed Warbler.

Great Crested Grebes continued to display, a Wren sang and Blackcap (13) and Garden Warbler (2) joined in.  A Chiffchaff (12) wasnt far behind. Tawny Owls called from the western side of the site.  Tufted Duck in small groups meandered the waters.

The pair of Lesser Black-backed Gulls flew over, Blue and Great Tit chimed them past as a Crow cawed away.  A Barn Owl re-appeared, this time at the western end of the site, so I attempted another piece of video....

must do better...maybe next time

A Common Sandpiper was on the shore of one of the pits.  Great Spotted Woodpecker hammered endlessly and Green Woodpecker yaffled again.  Goldcrest made a welcome appearance and a Magpie was welcome, to me at least, as one wasnt seen yesterday.

Chaffinch sang.  Some Yellowhammers joined in.  A Greylag did a fly-by and the Canada Geese honked their approval...or disapproval...?  A few Grey Heron mooched around the pools.  Two Starlings attended an Oak tree, obviously nesting near by.  The remaining Lesser Whitethroat on site was in good song.

A female Mandarin flew by and landed near the male, preening on the shore.  

Song Thrush finally chimed in...chimed in.

Jackdaw, Linnet, Willow Warbler (last one on site) and Feral Pigeon were all present around the 'quarry' area.  Heading back Dunnock and Long-tail Tit made haste.  

I walked along the back of the pits to check out some probably new arrival Nightingales and found some White Dead-nettle;

About to leave the pits one last look round found 3 Swift over the water, within a couple of minutes it was 12.

As it was quite warm I was wondering when I would see some butterflies, when this Speckled Wood appeared;

Commencing my walk across the fields this Small Tortoiseshell landed near by;

Across the orchard Goldfinch sang and House Sparrow chirped from the buildings.

the apple trees are coming in to bloom

this polonator tree is more advanced and has plenty of flower on it

Nearer the village Greenfinch and Collared Dove were added as the final birds of the day.