03 April 2011

Felt quite cold this morning despite the temp showing 7c, wind was light south, cloudy with sunny intervals, visit from 06.30 - 10.00. The pair of Mistle Thrushes remain by the bottom entrance with another pair on the sewage works and another pair near the top entrance to the park, on the boating lake the pair of Great Crested Grebe continue to feed 1 or more young, another 4 Grebes are on the main lake with 25 Tufted Duck, 1 Pochard and 1 Goldeneye, while I was on the grass bank I heard Waxwings flying over and looked up to see 28 flying over high heading north east, later on Nick and myself had another 15 Waxwings heading west/northwest, this time flying much lower, back on the main lake 2 Mute Swans and a couple of Lesser Black-backed Gulls, a single Cormorant flew over north and later while on the sewage works another 2 flew over heading south, a couple of Collared Doves flew over quite high, in all 9 Chiffchaffs and 9 Blackcaps were seen around various parts of the park, in the nature reserve a single Willow Tit was singing, the pair of Teal were flushed from the top of the 2nd pool and a Jay flew over the top pool were a Reed Bunting was feeding in a tall tree by the reed bed, on the gas works a group of 8 Sand Martins went over with a single House Martin, in all over 30+ Sand Martins went through during the visit with another 2 House Martins and a single Swallow, back to the gas works 3 Stock Doves and a Redpoll were flying around, on the gas works a Sparrowhawk, Pheasant and Bullfinch plus 6 Jackdaws flying over, as we came out of the sewage works by the top park entrance 3 Bramblings were calling from the top of the tall trees briefly before flying off, the 1st of 3 Willow Warblers was heard near here and a Buzzard flew low south over the main lake. While at Westport Nick received a phone call from Jeff Jones saying a Cuckoo was calling from the top of the gas works we rushed over to meet up with him but sadly it wasn't heard again. Received a call from Phil Jones this afternoon telling me a Redshank was along the spit off the boating lake, I jumped on my bike with no bins and my slippers on!! Met up with Phil exhausted but happy as he pointed the Redshank out too me, a nice finish to the day with 4 Westport year ticks and 1 Westport life tick, cheers Phil. The photo below was taken with my cameraphone using Phil's bins, not the best but at least it's a record shot.