05 April 2010

It had rained very heavy overnight so everywhere was very wet under foot, very overcast and cool, forgot to make a note of the breeze.
As usual the Grey Wagtail was along the canal singing away, I made my way through the top wood and over the grass mound, along the sidings and then down to the model boating lake, 11x Mute Swans where on here nearly all young ones from last year, the two Great Crested Grebe still sitting on the nest.
On the main lake counted another 4x Great Crested Grebe and 33x Tufted Duck, no sign of the Shoveler or Goldeneye which had returned yesterday, they have started to move about a bit now. The Grey Heron was doing it's usual tour of the lake and a couple of adult Lesser Black-backed Gull where on the lake.
I met up with Nick and we went through to the wood/pool area, Great Spotted Woodpecker was drumming, Chiffchaff calling (in total saw/heard 6), up by the top pool we had a male Reed Bunting, the second one, the first was in the trees by the visitors centre, 2x Willow Warblers where also singing in the top pool area, there was another 2x Mute Swans in the reed bed, Nick left for his hols (jammy sod) and I decided to have a look in the old gas works area, a single Kestrel was hovering over the grass area and at the same time 3x Swallows flew over and a single Sand Martin.
I made my way back to the top pool and had a male Blackcap and a male Bullfinch.
I came back out to the main lake and counted another 2x Sand Martins and 10x Swallows, on the grass verge a Oystercatcher was feeding as I walked round to the Visitors Centre 2x Mistle Thrush flew over a Grey Wagtail was on the beach area and I watched the Grey Heron catch and devour a large Pike, as I had another look at the Oystercatcher again and I noticed a Little Ringed Plover also on the grass verge.

Total species seen 40.

Also recorded by Phil Jones later in the day, 2x Willow Warbler and Blackcap still present, Green Woodpecker calling on the old gas works, first record for the month.

Back down to Westport from 17.45 - 19.40, it was very dull an overcast with light showers, a slight breeze from the south/southwest, additional species seen were, Coal Tit x1, Willow Tit x1 and Jay x2 all in the wood area at the back of the grass mound.
In the wood/pools area the male Shoveler was back, it seems to have paired up with a female Mallard so we will have too see what happens.

Total species seen for the day is 44.