24th April.
Spring sunshine - the Lonning . . .
. . . with the track carpeted in dandelions and daisies.
Female Blackcap picking insects from the blossom.
. . . or is it sipping nectar?
Nevertherless, a good pollinator!
Female Wheatear in newly ploughed arable field near farm.
Logbook entry.
Dave Blackledge: Pied Flycatcher in Wood - 'only 2nd record for the Reserve'
25th April.
Grey Heron on the foreshore.
Pied Wagtail on roadside verge - one was picking around the drive at the Wetlands Centre later in the day.
Rained most of the day, however, did not deter this sociable group on the 1st Meadow Pool.
2nd Meadow Pool - a smart looking pair.
Golden light of evening across the wetlands and Moss.
The day brightened up towards evening which illuminated these Teal's colourful plumage.
Five Little Egret (of 7 on the farm that evening ) enjoying the evening light on the wetlands.
Linnets (from flock of about 25) on newly ploughed arable field near the farm . . .
. . . and Male Wheatear from same field.
Little Egret in evening light - under 1st Meadow Pool screen.
Sedge Warbler singing in Lonning hedge - but would not show itself fully.
Oystercatcher landing in front of the hide.
26th April.
Male Linnet on ploughed field - flock of about 30 here today.
Meadow Pipit also . . .
. . . Wheatears.
Flock of finches and pipits flying over the arable field.
From the Logbook
Records kept by RSPB volunteers manning the Wetlands Centre:
Small Pool - Little Egret, Canada Goose, Little Grebe, Moorhen, Mallard.
From the Hide - Wigeon, Teal, Lapwing,Mallard, Ruff, Reed Bunting,
2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Buzzard, Great Tit, Chaffinch, Goldfinch.
P.R.W: From the Hide - Whimbrel (07.30 hrs)
Lonning - Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat.
2nd Screen - Little Egret.
Road to Bowness CWT - Lesser Whitethroat.
Bowness CWT - Garden Warbler.
On the farm - 7 Little Egrets.
27th April.
After a variable day of sunshine, showers, thunder and hail , the evening settled down somewhat. There were a few Linnets on the arable field and we caught a glimpse of a sitting female Canada Goose and the male nearby in attendance.
Female Canada Goose 'sitting' . . .
. . . and Male nearby.
Logbook record.
S.M. - Male Great Spotted Woodpecker - Byres Lonning corner.
29th April.
A rather wet 'baby' rabbit after a couple of days of rain, . . .
. . . munching its way through delicate plants in neighbouring gardens.
30th April.
Looking along the line of gorse edging the saltmarsh on this fine sunny evening.
The song of a Song Thrush resonates along the marsh.
A fine sunset - hopefully foretelling good weather to come!