This was a very popular walk this year. 16 of us gathered on the causeway at half past eight for a walk around the lake. The fist half hour was pretty chilly but then the sun came out and it was pretty perfect weather for the rest of the walk. We saw or in many cases only heard most of the expected birds. There were swallows over the flood meadow by Stockers farm but not over the lake and no martins. There were swifts high up for a while too. We had only glimpses of most birds. They were really well buried in the foliage which was in most cases well developed.

Cetti’s Warbler and Wren were present in large numbers and called from many points round the lake but with just one exception for each they as ever, remained well hidden. Reed and Sedge Warblers were few and far between but Garden Warblers, Blackcap and Chiffchaff were heard quite a few times. No Whitethroat or Lesser Whitethroat this year. Otherwise Blackbirds, Robins and plenty of Blue, Great and Long-Tailed Tits were seen and they serenaded us as we passed along.

We had an unusual sighting of a Reed Bunting. We also saw several Common Terns with a couple on our year-old raft near the remains of Ark Royal. A pair of Canada geese passed by with their brood of half a dozen goslings whilst we assembled on the causeway. No raptors were seen this year apart from one Red Kite. There are numerous Heron and a few Little Egret nests in the heronry. There were a couple of Pochard, a few Moorhen and small numbers of Tufted Duck, Coot, Canada and Greylag Geese (out on the lake). Including the other common species like Woodpigeon, Crow, Magpie and so on we spotted and or heard about 43 species altogether. (See full list below).

Given the fine weather there were surprisingly few butterflies but all in all a good morning.

Dick Beeden

List of Birds seen

Cetti’s Warbler
Sedge Warbler
Reed Warbler
Garden Warbler
Blackcap
Chiffchaff
Wren
Dunnock
Robin
Blackbird
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Long-tailed Tit
Woodpigeon
Feral Pigeon
Ring-Necked Parakeet
Swift
Swallow
Green Woodpecker (h)
Grey Wagtail
Jay
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Starling
House Sparrow
Reed Bunting
Great Crested Grebe
Cormorant
Grey Heron
Little Egret
Mute Swan
Greylag Goose
Canada Goose
Egyptian Goose
Mallard
Pochard
Tufted Duck
Moorhen
Common Coot
Black-headed Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Common Tern
Red Kite