Cettia cetti

0900 - 1030 overcast, brightening, cool but warming, W f1-2

Well they said it would rain all weekend...and as usual the Met Office...bah...enough said...

A short visit as I was accompanied by a noisy 8 year old boy....so not much chance of sneaking up on many birds though the Yellowhammers (4 singing today), as usual, were kindly patient for him to get a good look...

All the usual crew were there and many now in song....plenty of Bullfinch action today as well as Jays around.....Great Tits singing like mad...

First birds of note were 2 Mandarin on the pit by the wires just west of the quarry....which can now be better viewed as they have cut the trees and scrub under the wires....there are usually several Shoveler on here as well and, indeed, were present....its also a good place to find Bullfinch.

Next up was the first of 2 Chiffchaff, both in song.  The first was at the west end of the long straight, the second being located in trees between west pit and middle pit were I found him the other day.

The Linnets and Reed Bunting group, now smaller, was in the usual place near warbler corner and going in to the field to feed.  Both Canada and Greylag Geese were out in the field...again reduced numbers from a few days ago.

The first of 2 Little Egrets was alongside middle pit, with a pair, presumably this one and another, seen flying west from west pit.

9 Pochard were on middle pit as well as some Teal, but these mostly remained hidden but calling.  The male and female Goldeneye were swimming as one.  They will surely be off soon.

Great news....the Cettis Warbler was calling again today.  I'm guessing the same one as the other day, this is the first time I have known one to hang around.  I remain hopeful that breeding will follow this year.

A Snipe...possibly a Jack Snipe....flew up off the track and only went 30 metres before coming down in long grass....no definite but certainly the actions of Jack Snipe rather than Common which tend to fly off in to the distance.