8th of April and members day at Cromwell Bottom, this takes in a guided walk around the site with a couple of people from the committee, also takes in the North loop, which is mainly a closed off area.
The guided walk was due to start at 10am, so I decided on a earlier start, before it got busy. Leaving the car park, the Heronry seemed very active this morning with quite a few Grey Herons around bringing in nesting material. Green Woodpecker was noticeable by its “Yaffling” call, but not seen. The feeders by the visitor centre were active with Blue Tit, Great Tit, Robins, and Chaffinch.
Down at the weir there was a single Grey Wagtail this morning, and nothing else, so onto the reserve. The main feeding station was a quiet today, only Robins seen with a nearby calling Chiffchaff.
A walk on down to the viewing platform were there was a male Teal and a Grey Heron. I came back via the river footpath hoping for that Kingfisher sighting, not today.
A Blackcap made itself known by its loud call around by the feeding station, a bit of a dull start, hope the walk is better.
The members walk started at 10am setting off down along the canal towpath with the aim of coming onto the reserve further down. we were off to a good start picking up a couple of Willow Warblers and three female Goldeneye, Oystercatchers and Goosanders (ski lake). Our next stop was the viewing platform where we heard a Little Grebe and found a male Reed Bunting, also a couple of Lesser Redpolls .Walking back along the river footpath a Kingfisher was heard but alas not seen.
After lunch we were allowed up onto the North Loop site, where we could see the plans being made for this area, a horseshoe shaped lagoon was was being made and eventually would be a good area for passing waders, with hopefully some stopping to breed. Meadow Pipit was up on this location with of course the breeding Barn Owls.
44 species seen or heard today
Bird List : Blackbird, Blackcap, Black headed Gull, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Buzzard, Canada Goose, Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Coal Tit, Coot, Dunnock, Goldeneye, Goldfinch, Goosander, Great Tit, Green Woodpecker, Grey Heron, Grey Wagtail, Greylag Goose, Jay, Kingfisher, Lesser Black backed Gull, Lesser redpoll. Little Grebe, Long tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Meadow Pipit, Mistle Thrush, Moorhen, Nuthatch, Oystercatcher, Pheasant, Reed Bunting, Robin, Song Thrush, Stock Dove, Teal, Tufted Duck, Willow Warbler, Woodpigeon, Wren
Huddsbirder 