Forecast wasn’t too good for the morning and we had one early heavy shower, but only one brief later one, so got away with Angela’s brolly only putting in two appearances!

Hannah, Angela and Dan accompanied Ezio and me around the whole patch this morning – the first time for months we’ve been able to include the section past Frogshole Cottage.  We started by Braziers with a delightful flock of Long-tailed Tits flitting from tree to tree and collected most of the expected species along the Downslink, but few seen, most just heard.  A Cuckoo was calling from the Rye Farm area, and a Cormorant was sitting by one of the wet patches.  In the viewpoint field we heard singing Reed Warbler, Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat. Cetti’s Warbler and a fairly feeble Reed Bunting.  We saw Lapwings in the field from the concrete bridge, and as we stood watching the heronry half a dozen Swifts screamed overhead.  A Chaffinch sang near Stretham and Angela picked up the quiet song of a Goldcrest.  Along the riverbank were Goldfinches and many Linnets, and a Kestrel was flying to the east.  South of Buckwish Farm there were two Coots in the water, and – the surprise of the day – a Redshank.  Had almost given up on Buzzard when one appeared as we headed up the Rye Fam track.

We got 46 species (not 43 as I thought, had missed Great Spot, Dunnock and Goldcrest off my list):

We expected but didn’t get – Green Woodpecker, Stock Dove and, rather unbelievably, Magpie.  When I got home and heard some noisy Starlings, I realised we hadn’t seen any of  these either!  It’s quite unusual to see a Redshank here in May, so very pleased with that.

Val Bentley et al, 27th May 2024