Another session spent in cloudy and drizzly conditions. The arrival of March is always a welcome sight in the birding calendar with migrants starting to arrive throughout the month, and hopefully some better weather too. As I was putting out the recorder last night around 18:15, I saw 1 Woodcock well in silhouette as it appeared from its roost site. I spent a few hours this morning mainly walking around the Nethergong end of the patch where I managed to see 41 Mute Swan, 2 Egyptian Geese flew in from the North and continued on towards Grove Ferry, 6 Mallard, 2 Pheasant, 4 Stock Dove, 73 Woodpigeon, 3 Collared Dove, 1 Water Rail, 13 Moorhen, 1 Coot but no sign of the pair on the main lake today. There were 4 Black headed Gull, 2 Common Gull, 17 Herring Gull, 1 Lesser Black backed Gull (78), 25 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Marsh Harrier, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Great spotted Woodpecker, 2 Green Woodpecker, 1 Kestrel, 1 Jay, 11 Jackdaw, 43 Rook, 11 Blue Tit, 4 Great Tit and 1 Skylark. There were 3 Chiffchaff (79) including one singing bird. Always a joy to hear the first singing Chiff of the year. Also noted were 3 Cetti's Warbler, 10 Long tailed Tit, 5 Goldcrest, 1 Treecreeper, 3 Mistle Thrush, 5 Song Thrush, 2 Redwing, 6 Blackbird, 2 Fieldfare, 10 Robin, 4 Dunnock, 7 Pied Wagtail, 12 Chaffinch, 2 Bullfinch, 45 Linnet, 17 Goldfinch, 1 Yellowhammer and 3 Reed Bunting. Nocmig recording Saturday night produced some Teal, 1 Tawny Owl, Golden Plover and what sounds to me like a Pintail call. Hopefully this can be confirmed or not in the next day or so. With some lighter winds forecast for the week, I will hopefully get the recorder out. We've entered the time of year when Brent Geese and Common Scoter start to migrate through the area. Fingers crossed I can record them and maybe, even hear them live if I can get out.  

Nocmig recording Tuesday night in the Nethergong area produced 1 Bittern (76) flying over calling at 18:49. Always a treat to know they are flying over the patch during the hours of darkness. Also heard were 1 Little Grebe (77), Coot, Moorhen, Tawny Owl, Gadwall and Teal.

Bittern

Little Grebe

I had a good walk around the patch yesterday, checking around the campsite and then on to Chislet Marshes. Birds noted included 2 Woodcock into roost, Gadwall and Teal heard in the dark and 1 Water Rail called. There were 30 Mute Swan, 3 Mallard, 4 Pheasant, 10 Stock Dove, 37 Woodpigeon, 1 Collared Dove, 25 Moorhen, 3 Coot, 6 Herring Gull, 12 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Barn Owl, 2 Little Owl, 3 Great spotted Woodpecker, 2 Green Woodpecker, 1 Kestrel, 1 Peregrine, 20 Jackdaw, c30 Rook, 2 Raven, 8 Blue Tit, 4 Great Tit, 7 Skylark and 3 Cetti's Warbler. There were 2 Long tailed Tit, 2 Goldcrest, 1 Treecreeper, 1 Mistle Thrush, 8 Song Thrush, 18 Blackbird, 64 Fieldfare, 7 Robin, 6 Stonechat, 4 Dunnock, 4 House Sparrow, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Meadow Pipit, 14 Chaffinch, 1 Bullfinch, 1 Greenfinch, 5 Linnet, 3 Goldfinch, 12 Corn Bunting, 25 Yellowhammer and 22 Reed Bunting. 

Treecreeper