.......avocet. Not a usual bird for us as they tend to stick to their well known sites in the South of England, but we do get occasional visitors dropping in and we had a single bird (unusual in itself) present on West Mead scrape in the afternoon, kept company by sheltering shelduck, a fidgety redshank and a busy meadow pipit. Elsewhere the reserve sounded of spring with numerous singing chiffchaff, a flock of restless and noisy linnet and a drumming great spotted woodpecker off the Zig Zag path.

A is also for ......adder but despite the glorious sunny afternoon the wind conspired to bring the temperature down a degree or two and none were showing. We'll keep our eyes peeled along Adder Alley.

As our winter birds thin out (and many redwings and fieldfare were vocal and flocking - a sign they are soon to depart?) we welcomed our newer migrants with three little ringed plovers on the North Brooks. Not long until we see our first sand martin perhaps!

With thanks to one of our great hides & trails volunteers, John, for today's update.