Singing Greenfinch along Staples Barn and a Chiffchaff by the Railway pub car park gave some hope that spring might arrive soon; there was also a Red-legged Partridge sprinting across Furners Lane north of Park Farm.

Paul Cole, 26th March 2024

I had a very early start this morning as my body clock is clearly getting ready for the clocks going forward at the weekend. So I decided to go down the Millstream. Of course what used to be a nice little path at the side of the stream is now turned into a wide swathe, but the mud has pretty well gone, so it was perfectly passable. despite the hedge having been cut back so drastically, there was still plenty of birds about as I came through the gate at the entrance. I saw two Grey Wagtails. Fortunately, my Merlin app was able to identify all the birds that I could hear but not see, lots of Linnets (that I could see!) and the usual Chiffchaffs, and also a Yellowhammer. There were a lot of Egrets about in the field and also six Swans. Also, a Snipe went up from the field. A good start to the day!
Liz Taylor, 26th March 2024

Far fewer wildfowl around this morning, but Dave Buckingham was in his customary spot overlooking the Brooks!  Also caught up with the Great White Egret which I’d missed previously. It was doing its best to look inconspicuous among some Little Egrets, but not succeeding!

Val Bentley, 25th March 2024

I saw Dave B scanning the Brooks this morning.  He reported two Swallows heading north – no chance of me seeing them!  However I did see three Shelducks and he pointed out that two of the 14 or so white blobs were Cattle Egrets.  Also directed me to a Peregrine in a distant field, though again, I wouldn’t have picked it up myself.

Val Bentley, 23rd March 2024

While walking Ziggy this morning on the land adjoining Woods Mill my first Swallow of the year flew over, poor thing it didn’t choose a very good day to arrive back as we seem to have returned to Winter.  A fine looking Chiffchaff serenaded me from just above my head as it flitted from branch to branch.

John Pointing, 23rd March 2024

Had a message from Libby Morris on the sightings email address to say that she and Graham Lyons had been searching for invertebrates on the Common and had put up nine Snipe from the reedbed, plus had a yellowhammer fly over and a Skylark singing.

And at the SDOS meeting on Thursday Sally H told me there had been lots of finches (including Yellowhammers) on the eastern of John White’s level fields at the Lydds,  where the ground hadn’t been tilled.

Val Bentley, 19th March 2024

I ad a message from Libby Morris on the sightings email address to say that she and Graham Lyons had been searching for invertebrates on the Common and had put up 9 Snipe from the reedbed, plus had a Yellowhammer fly over and a Skylark singing.

Val Bentley, 19th March 2024

I was down the Downslink this morning  and saw Little Egrets but there was also a Great White Egret which was at the back of the field that adjoins the heronry. Also a couple of Grey Herons on nests. A pair of Lapwings were territorial displaying near the Downslink in the field next to the Mill Stream, while there were also two Meadow Pipits doing their display flights there. Numerous Skylarks were singing their hearts out as was a single Yellowhammer.

Mike Russell, 19th March 2024