A gorgeous morning for Andy, Linda, Mel, Maya and myself to walk round “Area 9” on the 21st – it took us 4 ½ hours to complete the circuit, and both Maya and I had a well-deserved nap after lunch!  Started off by realising that I had forgotten notebook and pen, so Linda managed to find a pen in her car and I found a piece of paper in mine, so was able to note down species for the Wetland Bird count.

On the first part of the railway line we heard a few Dunnocks, and decided today’s aim was to get Linda to recognise their song.  Work in progress on that as it is a fairly nondescript warble!  A Goldcrest was singing above us by the crossroads with Sandy Lane, and when we reached the far side of the tunnel Mel spotted a Treecreeper in a tree on the embankment.  A good place for them.  Nuthatches and Stock Doves calling there too.  In the fields towards Rye Farm were a pair of Canada Geese, Moorhens and Mallards, three Herons, a singing male Reed Bunting, and a Raven flew over “cronking”. It had something in its claws and perched in a distant tree pecking away at whatever it was.

We got to the point where Mike & his group had seen Little Ringed Plover and Water Pipit yesterday.  The plover had moved on, but the Water Pipit was still there, and from views in the scope we decided it looked just like the one in my book, so a male in summer plumage with pink breast and grey head  – as per https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/water-pipit/ .  Very nice. According to the RSPB info the species “breeds in the Alps and other mountain ranges of central and southern Europe”.   About a dozen Lapwing were around here too, and in the pools 4 Teal and 18 Wigeon.  Greylag Geese and a pair of Egyptian Geese were near the heronry, where 2 nests were occupied.  Eight Cormorants in the oak tree there, and a Buzzard further south.

Along the river, a Green Sandpiper took off, then Mel spotted 2 waders fly low and away, from her description (as I missed them completely!) they must have been Dunlin.  We had Skylarks and Linnets singing, Meadow Pipits calling, another Green Sandpiper at the overflow pit, a Stonechat on the brambles, another small group of Linnets, and a superbright group of over 20 Yellowhammers on Sharon Jesse’s land. A Kestrel was on top of a small tree and a Red Kite flew past,  being harried by a crow.  A couple of Tortoiseshell butterflies were on the wing along here too.