Amazingly mild today with Skylarks in full song all around the reserve and Reed Buntings, Dunnocks, Wrens and Cetti's Warblers bursting into song. All the dabbling ducks were displaying with lots of head throwing and bum waggling and the two White-fronted Geese were still with the Canadas and Greylags. Peregrines were excellent today and three Buzzards and the immature male Marsh Harrier was busy quartering the Target Pools.
Down on the foreshore the first Oystercatcher of the year was to be seen along with five Avocets, Curlew and a small flock of Dunlin. The bull Common Seal was hauled out on the mud early doors. A bumblebee was seen in the woodland today, obviously disturbed by the very mild conitions that have followed so quickly after the blistering cold of last week.
Avocet (Mark Hart)
Dunlin & Teal (Mark Hart).
Redshank & Curlew (Pete Merchant)