15th April.
Day turned out to be slightly warmer than of late - although the night had been frosty, the early morning rain and sunshine that followed, warmed things up somewhat.
A pair of Bullfinch were seen frequenting the hamlet and early afternoon a Chiffchaff was belting out its song from the gorse on the marsh front.
Derek West reported having seen two Little Egret and a male Wheatear near Saltmarsh Pool.
From the Logbook: Skua Watcher, John Ireland reported 30 Red -throated Divers, 1 Great Northern Diver, 2 Guillimots, a Great-crested Grebe, 3 Scaup, 4 Goldeneye, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers, a Blackcap and two Swallows from Bowness Shelter.
Chiffchaff
A pair of Bullfinch perching together.
16th April.
A bright sunny day with no wind. A small high tide roost collected in front of layby near Maryland. A morning visit to the hide produced 4 Black-tailed Godwits and a Redshank to the right of the peninsula and 2 Greylag and a Little Egret on a promontory on the left-hand pool.
Mid afternoon: a Chiffchaff in the Ash tree at the entrance to the Lonning; a Pied Wagtail on the Gorse fringing the saltmarsh; 4 Willow Warblers were heard in different places along the Lonning hedge; a Little Grebe on the 2nd Meadow Pool and Pintail, Shoveler, Wigeon and Teal on the wetland in front of the hide.
The logbook recorded: Norman Holton - 4 Black-tailed Godwit, 8 Redshank, 12 Shoveler, 14 Pintail, loads of Willow Warblers on the farm and a Coot ( 1st of the season on the RHS of the Wetland peninsula).
Recently installed table with laminated Pond Dipping ID charts in the Wetlands Discovery Zone. Why not bring the family/friends and call in at the Wetlands Centre to pick up equipment. Spend some time Pond Dipping from the newly constructed platform over the Pond - who knows what you will find there!
High tide roost in front of Maryland layby - mostly Oystercatchers with some Curlew.
Black-tailed Godwits on muddy wetland margins.
Two Greylags on promontory to pool in front of the hide.
Little Egret landing there also . . .
. . . and shortly joining the Greylags.
Wigeon landing on the wetlands.
Surprised a Grey Heron close to the 1st Meadow Pool screen.
Willow Warbler in 'Pussy' Willow over 2nd Meadow Pool screen ( heard it singing although legs look dark - being in the shade)