A lovely sunny morning starting off though a little windy and cloudy towards lunchtime. Quite mild too!
As I got dropped off at the car park a GSW was in the trees above - the first of three sightings today. A Chiffchaff was over towards the sewage works - first of the year for me here.
I started off by following the cycleway towards Cloff Bridge not seeing much apart from a few tits and Chaffinch until reaching Faith Wood. The last 100m to Cloff Bridge held various tits, Chaffinch, Reed Bunting and Yellowhammer.
Still no sign of the Little Owls but the hedges in that area held several Wren, Dunnock, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting, LTT and Tree Sparrow. By the manure heap 100+ Meadow Pipit took off from the field heading west over the cycleway - quite a spectacle!
Quite a few birds singing around there as well with Yellowhammer, Chaffinch, Tree Sparrow, Wren and Dunnock plus several Skylark.
Nothing new seen back-tracking to Cloff Birdge and then heading down Claxton Beck to the lake. Standing by the hide another Chiffchaff was calling every now and again over towards Faith Wood. A couple of Bullfinch were behind the hide.
Sitting on the bench near the hide I saw two Kingfishers perched by the lake. They were still there by the time I'd made it around to the twin benches though shortly afterwards the male flew towards me across the lake - unfortunately just as the sun went in!
The lake itself was very quiet with very few of anything - maybe half a dozen Mallard, Tufted Duck, Gadwall, Moorhen and Coot. It was nice to see a pair of Canada Geese back and by the looks of it nesting already on the grassy island. The male Mute Swan must have been going dizzy chasing one of the geese round and round the island. The Swans are also nesting again.
There were several fly-overs by a male and female Kestrel, also Wood Pigeon, Crow, Black-headed Gulls and a LBB Gull which landed on the lake. Going by the calls I'd say there were at least six Little Grebe and one pair of Water Rail.
Returning to the car park I paid the feeding station a quick visit. Very quiet with just the odd Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting, Blue Tit and Great Tit. I think the Reed Buntings were the most numerous species! The car park tables were pretty much the same species.