Got in early (after leaving late) and had a woodland wander. Almost the first bird I cam across was a singing Grasshopper Warbler in the small hawthorns by the Bus Stop. It was singing intermitently but evetually showed quite well before skulking off with a flick of his tail. I managed to record a little bit of the song and I shall try and upload it later. A great start and a good early record for the reserve.
It soon became obvious that there were more Blackcaps in with 13 counted singing on the loop along with nine Chiffchaffs and two Willow warblers while my prediction of the first Whitethroat of the year was confirmed by some visitors later on.
Peek-a-boo Blackcap
Cetti's Warblers were incredibly showy and I heard eight and saw seven which is a pretty good hit rate. This is defintely the best time of year to get an unobscured view.
Greenfinches were wheezing with at least four pairs encountered with several of the males engaging in their wonderful exaggerated dispaly flights around the verdant Chestnut crowns.
Down at path level a female Glow Worm was having fun trying to drag a slug, over twice its size, off the path and into the grass. Nice to see the first one of the season. I hope was have another great season.
It was a little early in the day for butterflies although as things warmed up I saw many species from the window along with a good number of newly emerged Alder Flies.
Eight Scoter zoomed up river and three Buzzards circled south with a female Peregrine and stroppy Kestrel in tow and it looks like another Osprey headed through at about 4:15pm as everything came up off Wennington and the guys saw one a few minutes later going north west up the Ingrebourne. I am hoping that one of the people on the Serin mound may have seen it!
So the day is now coming to an end and I shall attempt to cross the QEII Bridge once again.... wish me luck....
10-4-14
Howard Vaughan, Information Officer
On a roll Phil ...;o)
Another terrific post, Howard.