Temperatures remain stubbornly in single figures but at least we had our second firecrest of the spring. However, it proved to be very elusive, hanging out in the Fen trail / main car park area - it was seen only sporadically throughout the day and not by any of the reserve staff. Early morning bittern surveying produced more potential signs of breeding with at least two boomers and one bird being seen in flight.
Blackcaps have arrived in numbers with fifteen singing along the trails and sedge warblers have also increased with three birds along the path towards Island hide. Chiffchaffs (seven) and willow warblers (two) try to out sing each other from exposed perches around the centre and car park, or perhaps they are just comparing notes on their recent migration flights from Africa?
Swallows and sand martins passed through in good numbers thoughout the day (100+) and a ringtail hen harrier left it's reedbed roost at dawn heading west. Off shore the raft of common scoter and a few velvets linger. The water pipit continues to feed along the Parrinder bank.
Our marsh harriers continue to sky dance and bearded tit are getting easier to see and hear as they explore the reedbed for places to nest.
Keep on birding!