I went for a slightly longer walk this morning – from home to the Mill Stream via Broadmere and Lepride, then back up the railway line and through the fields. It was a lovely morning, With Chiffchaffs in good voice and I must have heard between 6 and 8 on the way round. A pair of Mute Swans were on the wet area. I heard one Yellowhammer to the south, several Skylarks singing in the fields by the Mill Stream, and also, on the north side, a Meadow Pipit. At the heronry birds were sitting on the two visible nests. Another one flew in to the left hand nest and presented the incumbent with a nice twig! Plenty of geese around there making a racket.

The southern pond was occupied by about 30 Wigeon, 3 Shoveler and a Grey Heron. While I was watching the Wigeon, a lone Gadwall sailed serenely by. A Little Egret was a bit further away. 24 Lapwings were between there and the northern ponds – which held about 20 Teal. Couldn’t find any wagtails of any description or indeed any Water Pipit – but that’s par for the course for me! (VB)