Took my Birdwatching Course around Woods Mill and up the Mill Stream yesterday morning and some great birds heard and seen. Highlights included hearing a Cetti’s Warbler on the reserve and up the stream. Then heard a Cuckoo on the opposite side of the road to the Woods Mill entrance. In the fields along the stream there were 3 Northern Wheatears. From the Downs Link I could just see 2 Grey Heron chicks on the nest as an adult flew in. Then a Great White Egret flew from behind the heronry towards the floods on Rye Farm. while watching this, we noticed a White Stork thermalling over the water.

Back at Woods Mill, a Swallow was having a go at a Buzzard while a Reed Warbler sang from the reedbed and earlier on before I arrived, someone reported hearing a Nightingale on the reserve. So many Chiffchaffs all over the place and a pair of Treecreepers chased each other around a tree and I heard the loudest Nuthatch ever!

A great morning with 54 species recorded. (MR)