Spring at last! Thanks to volunteer Graham for his report and photos from the weekend.
As I made my way down the zigzag path a Nuthatch provided my first photographic subject.
When I got to West Mead Hide some visitors pointed out our now-regular White Tailed Eagles at some distance. On the scrape I located a Little Ringed Plover and I showed this (and the eagles) in my scope to several visitors. It soon got even busier in the hide so I retreated to the rear bench, causing me to miss the opportunity to photograph the eagles as they came closer and put up all the nearby birds before flying off towards the North Brooks. However, before this happened I did manage to get a few photos of a pair of Avocets on one of the islands . As can be seen in the second image, one of these birds is colour-ringed. I have submitted an observation to the European Colour-Ring Birding website.
On the North Brooks there were three pairs of Avocets (possibly including the pair I saw earlier). Several male Chiffchaffs were competing for territory around Hanger View, including one that made a couple of flycatching sorties.
A visitor spotted the arrival of a Peregrine in the tall willows, and views of this were enjoyed by a number of other visitors before I left the viewpoint.
In the afternoon I made my way back to West Mead, where the main action was provide by the Lapwings.
Although I had somehow managed to miss hearing the Nightingales reported by others I did see and hear a good number of warblers, including this male Blackcap by the zigzag path on the way back to the VC.
After I had handed my radio back and signed out at the Welcome Hut I spent a bit of time making my first attempts at photographing newts in Upperton’s Pond. Males of all three UK species were present - Common, Palmate & Great Crested. I am hoping to try again next week with the benefit of a polarising filter. (We're looking forward to seeing them Graham!)
Male Common (or Smooth) Newt
Male Palmate Newt
Male Great Crested Newt