This was a popular walk again this year. 16 of us gathered on the causeway at half past eight for a walk round the lake. The first hour or so was a bit chilly but by the end the sun came out and it was pretty perfect weather for the latter part of the walk.

We saw, or in many cases only heard, most of the expected birds. There were Swifts and Swallows over the over the lake but no Martins. 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 remained well hidden. Reed and Sedge Warblers were few and far between but Garden Warblers, Blackcap and Chiffchaff were heard quite a few times. Just one Whitethroat and no 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 saw several Reed Bunting. So perhaps they are making a comeback. Common Terns were quite abundant with some having what looked like nests on our rafts. A pair of Greylag geese paddled down the lake with their brood of half a dozen goslings. No raptors were seen apart from one Red Kite. There were numerous Grey Heron flying around but oddly we saw no Little Egret. There were a several Pochard, a few Moorhen and small numbers of Tufted Duck, Coot and Canada Goose out on the lake.

One highlight was a Cuckoo heard at various points and seen by some of the party in the poplars at the western end of the Lake. Including other common species like Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Magpie and so on, we spotted and or heard about 42 species altogether (see list below).

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

Dick Beeden

List of Species Seen

Great Crested Grebe
Cormorant
Grey Heron
Mute Swan
Greylag Goose
Canada Goose
Gadwall
Mallard
Pochard
Tufted Duck
Red Kite
Moorhen
Coot
Black-headed Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Common Tern
Woodpigeon
Cuckoo
Swift
Swallow
Kingfisher
Wren
Dunnock
Robin
Blackbird
Song Thrush
Cetti’s Warbler
Sedge Warbler
Reed Warbler
Whitethroat
Blackcap
Garden Warbler
Chiffchaff
Long-tailed Tit
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Starling
House Sparrow