Early in the morning....

....the sun was up.....

........and the sky was a very blue.....(ELO)

...well, the sun wasnt up but getting up and providing a rather nice fiery orange sunrise far away to the east...it would be some time before it finally poked its head over the horizon.

Yet again I was beaten by the cracking of the dawn.  Up at 4am, I was making a cup of tea for the journey to Five Oak Green and dawn had beaten me out of bed.  So it will be an earlier start next time.  Possibly!

0415 Clear, bright, light W breeze turning SW then SSW by finish gusting F1-2 and rather cool

Arrived at 0415 to be greeted by a Song Thrush busily collecting food on a lawn of a nearby house, just a few feet away.  It wasnt even bothered when I got out of the car, already having quite a beak full ready to go and start the feeding session (though I reckon the feeding session had already been under way some time).

Exiting the car to a quieter village than it has been, Blackbird and Robin were jockeying for number one position whilst a Pheasant cleared its throat some distance to the north.

Off in to the gloom across the now usual quiet orchard with just a distant Skylark for company and across the fields.

At the far side of the fields the Reed Buntings have spilled out from the pits and one is singing in the crops.  A Wren joined in immediately waking a Woodpigeon.  One or two Coot cooted and I disturbed a Grey Heron that had been sitting on the near shore.

Tufted Duck beamed black and white on the water as Tawny Owls performed the one owl call everyone knows off to the western side of the site where there is a large stand of evergreens, so im guessing that is where they reside.

Sedge and Reed Warblers were already on sore throat duty with Whitethroat itchy scratchy with a few curses to go with it.  Blackcap decided to join the party along with a few Yellowhammers.  Great Crested Grebes drifted around the pit and the usual Mute Swan numbers were present.

this shot taken a little later in the morning

The Mallards, that seemed to be hanging around the fringes for some time during the winter period now seem to have taken centre stage and are being quite bold on the pits.  2 Canada Geese were present and 2 more flew in later, with 3 (?) leaving together later still.

I could hear Lesser Whitethroat distantly, now numbering only 2 on site, that I could find, and the northern boundary Nightingale started, still numbering 6 on site in total.

I then had the great fortune to find a Barn Owl....

not great, but managed to capture this little bit of hunting

...followed by a second Barn Owl...the requiste number for more Barn Owls!

Whilst this little bit of excitement was commencing I suddenly noticed Chaffinch had started to sing and call, Chiffchaff immediately followed along with Blue Tit and Moorhen.  Walking on to the 'quarry' a group of around 15 Jackdaws obliged in a tree with Crow flying overhead.  A few scurrying Linnet sped past and continued to be very flighty whilst I was there.

Great Tit tea-chered away.  Then the bird I had come for today decided to make an appearance and a little sing....Garden Warbler.

a little grainy due to the zoom, I attempted a couple of other takes but a noisy Nightingale kept drowning the poor little thing out.....so I hope a Mrs Garden Warbler can hear him...!

This one was at the western quarry end, I found a pair at the eastern end.

A Jay called and flew by as  a Willow Warbler descended its notes of treacly promise.  Green Woodpecker yaffled and Great Spotted Woodpecker drummed north and south of the pits.  Dunnock brightened up the morning with its cheerful song and a lonely Swallow swooped by.  Two Starling made an appearance briefly and the Lapwing finally broke cover in the field.  I was beginning to think Cuckoo had deserted, but finally one commenced calling though it was some way off to the north.

Rook flew by as I stood for some time staring endlessly at the scrub that held the Lesser Whitethroat, it finally making an appearance courtesy of a Chaffinch with which it shares this little piece of England.  It also seems to share it with a Common Whitethroat and a Blackbird....quite a busy little piece of England!

Leaving the pits I decided to walk the more western route back as I had not heard the Nightingale(s) off to this side this morning.  I was pleased to hear one...and then another.

The western side of the fields is beginning to look rather different....

this part of the field seems to be growing the Rape crop quickly compared to other parts

Adding a couple of Whitethroat I came up to this small copse and was pleasantly surprised to find a good number of Bluebells out.

Ive been watching a few other pieces of woodland when ive been out riding my bike and none of them seems to have Bluebells out at the moment though they arent too far from here.

Goldfinch, Collared Dove and House Sparrow all appeared at the farm.

Back to the car by 0745.