[Tri-Counties Birder]

Yep, great to see my first Blackcap and Swallow of the year at Tice's this morning. Peter Bryant was there with us, and it seems it was he who saw the Willow Warblers.

But of course the highlight was the Yellow Wagtail, by far a new early date for me. I first heard it in flight, and then saw it over the meadow with a Pied Wag. It then flew over our heads and circled a bit, before seemingly coming down onto the workings. I searched a lot but could not find it on the deck. About ten minutes later I heard it calling in flight again, but could not find it. I have a feeling it left at that point (about 10:00).

[mattytheduke]

A productive morning at Tice's with Sean, between 9.30 and 11. Seemingly ever-increasing numbers of Sand Martin, peaking at c.30 before the cloud started to clear. There was a Swallow in amongst them which gave a very nice flypast. Close views too of a male Wheatear on the meadow, and also two Little Ringed Plover which flew right over our heads. Best of all was the Yellow Wagtail, which Sean picked up calling as it flew towards us over the meadow around 10.15. It flew right over us before doubling back, and seemed to dip down towards the sand banks behind the workings.
Didn't see or hear any Willow Warbler while we were there, but did pick up 3 at Frensham Great Pond around noon.
Other species of note at Tice's: 1 singing Blackcap, 2 x Buzzard, 4+ Lesser Redpoll, 2+ Linnet.
Also popped back this afternoon, where I met Dave Baker. Picked up one Green Sandpiper, and a Sparrowhawk.

Matt.

[mattytheduke]

Originally Posted by Tri-Counties Birder

Yep, great to see my first Blackcap and Swallow of the year at Tice's this morning. Peter Bryant was there with us, and it seems it was he who saw the Willow Warblers.

But of course the highlight was the Yellow Wagtail, by far a new early date for me. I first heard it in flight, and then saw it over the meadow with a Pied Wag. It then flew over our heads and circled a bit, before seemingly coming down onto the workings. I searched a lot but could not find it on the deck. About ten minutes later I heard it calling in flight again, but could not find it. I have a feeling it left at that point (about 10:00).

Oops, great minds think alike Sean! And your time-keeping's better than mine too! (I'd neglected to change my watch to BST which didn't help!)

Matt.

[JohnnyH]

Day off today so spent the morning at Tices, the male Wheatear is present for it's 4th day, 10 Sand Martins over the workings, singing Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaffs, & min of 2 LRP's being todays migrants. Other birds seen - Green Sandpiper, 2 Snipe, w/p GBB Gull, 2 Gadwall, 4 Shoveler, 4 Teal, 3 Meadow Pipit, Reed Bunting, 2 Stock Dove, 3 Lapwing, & Little Grebe.

John.

[JohnnyH]

Text from Rich Horton this afternoon, Water Pipit & 3 Wheatears present on the meadow & Redshank in workings.

John.

[JohnnyH]

Popped down for an hour this evening, pretty quiet compared to recent days. There were 2 Green Sands on the workings together, no other waders seen & 1 Sand Martin hawking over the workings. I see that an Osprey was seen over Fleet Pond this evening, eyes to the skys guys!

John.

[JohnnyH]

Another excellent session at Tices this afternoon! Arrived & found 2 female Wheatears on the meadow, then was told by a visiting birder of a group of waders on the workings he could'nt id. I got the scope on them & was amazed to see 7 Black Tailed Godwits, some of which were moulting into summer plumage. I texted Rich Horton, who quickly arrived & then watched as the Godwits & gulls went up courtesy of a passing Peregrine! Sadly we could'nt re-locate the Godwits afterwards. Also had our first returning Common Tern, a Redshank & Little Egret on the floods, & my first 2 Swallows this year. Other migrants noted were 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, 4 LRP, & 14 Sand Martins.

John

[bbsbirder]

Originally Posted by JohnnyH

Another excellent session at Tices this afternoon! Arrived & found 2 female Wheatears on the meadow, then was told by a visiting birder of a group of waders on the workings he could'nt id. I got the scope on them & was amazed to see 7 Black Tailed Godwits, some of which were moulting into summer plumage. I texted Rich Horton, who quickly arrived & then watched as the Godwits & gulls went up courtesy of a passing Peregrine! Sadly we could'nt re-locate the Godwits afterwards. Also had our first returning Common Tern, a Redshank & Little Egret on the floods, & my first 2 Swallows this year. Other migrants noted were 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, 4 LRP, & 14 Sand Martins.

John

John, another good day at Tices.

The seven Black-tailed Godwits are the first spring record with only three previous sightings all in the autumn last year. Also the Common Tern is the earliest recorded by 9 days.

Kevin

[JohnnyH]

Lunchtime session today produced highlights of 3 Wheatears on the meadow, (2 fem, 1 male), and a passing Peregrine that gave great views as it flew directly over me! Also 5 LRP's on the meadow/ workings, 20 plus Sand Martins, 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, & 2 Buzzard. Nice to see a Little Grebe on the workings, no sign of the Common Tern though. Wildfowl no's continue to dwindle, only 4 Gadwall, 2 Shoveler, & 2 Teal noted today.

John.

[RJSeargent]

I knew it was a bad idea to go birding on the equator; it appears that I have missed a cracking start to spring at Tice's.

Rich

[mattytheduke]

I went down to Tice's/Tongham GP this afternoon between 3 and 5. The 3 Wheatear were still present on the meadow, and there were still good numbers of Sand Martin over the workings. A couple of darker hirundines were flitting about higher over the meadow and bank, which I'm fairly certain were Swallows, although they were being buffeted by the wind, and had no obvious tail streamers, so was hard to say for sure! Buzzard numbers peaked at 3, as well as a Sparrowhawk. Many Blackcap and Chiffchaff singing.
Over at Tongham GP, there were likewise lots of singing Blackcap and Chiffchaff, as well as a Willow Warbler singing in the hedgerow next to the school playing field. There wasn't a great deal on the water there, apart from a pair of Lesser Black-backeds. As I headed back I noted a pair of Buzzard, and a distant pair of Raven circling beyond the A331.
Particularly nice way to end the visit was two Roe Deer (presumably a male and female as one had smallish antlers) roaming about over Tice's Meadow, and bathing in the right-hand pool, before coming quite close to the bank and feeding on willow saplings amongst the Wheatear.

Matt.

[JohnnyH]

Originally Posted by RJSeargent

I knew it was a bad idea to go birding on the equator; it appears that I have missed a cracking start to spring at Tice's.

Rich

Well if you will go off gallivanting round the world Welcome back mate, lets hope for some more good stuff this week!

Cheers,

John.

[bbsbirder]

With a few Ring Ouzel about it may be worth checking the rough area between Tices Wood and Tongham GP. The only reported Ring Ouzel at Tices was seen in this area back in 2002.

Kevin.

[bbsbirder]

Originally Posted by RJSeargent

I knew it was a bad idea to go birding on the equator; it appears that I have missed a cracking start to spring at Tice's.

Rich

Hi Rich,
It's already looking like the start of a bumper year for Tices. Sure to be plenty more migrants dropping in over the next 6 months.

Kevin

[RJSeargent]

A superb spring afternoon at Tice's with the first Garden Warbler of the year (an early record but following one in the south east 2 days ago) and 4 Wheatears on the meadow. Sand Martin numbers have built up and a Common Tern was bathing near the spit. Blackcap, Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff are all in full song.


Conversely, wildfowl numbers are down with only 2 Gadwall, 2 Teal, 1 Shoveler and 6 Tufted Ducks seen. Only 1 Lapwing also present.

Rich

[JohnnyH]

Originally Posted by bbsbirder

With a few Ring Ouzel about it may be worth checking the rough area between Tices Wood and Tongham GP. The only reported Ring Ouzel at Tices was seen in this area back in 2002.

Kevin.

Checked this area this afternoon with out success, as Rich reported 1st Garden Warbler singing along the bank. At least 6 Blackcap & 5 Chiffchaff around the area, the 4 Wheatears today are a pb count so far this spring. One or two Snipe still present around the reed bed & a large female Sparrowhawk persued by a gaggle of Pied Wags.

John.

[RJSeargent]

Male Pied Flycatcher at the north end of the embankment at around 1900hrs. Seen by Kev Martin and Dave Baker. A first for Tice's I believe. John H and I dipped!

That's birding.

Rich

[bbsbirder]

Originally Posted by RJSeargent

A superb spring afternoon at Tice's with the first Garden Warbler of the year

Rich

The previous earliest Garden Warbler was on the 25th April 2008 (RJS). The first time they were recorded was only in 2007.

Kevin

[bbsbirder]

Originally Posted by RJSeargent

Male Pied Flycatcher at the north end of the embankment at around 1900hrs. Seen by Kev Martin and Dave Baker. A first for Tice's I believe. John H and I dipped!

That's birding.

Rich

It is a first for Tices Meadow.
Hopefully it's just roosted and will be refound later today. Can't make it this morning as in North London so if its seen again I will be looking on Friday morning.

Another bird that would be nice to see would be the Hoopoe in Crondall. Even better if it flies 7km East and lands at Tices!

Kevin

[RJSeargent]

Originally Posted by bbsbirder

The previous earliest Garden Warbler was on the 25th April 2008 (RJS). The first time they were recorded was only in 2007.

Kevin

Kev,

I have always believed that Garden Warbler is overlooked with some not aware of the song. Funnily enough I had one this morning along the BWVP whilst out on a run. This species is perhaps 10 days early given average dates for early arrival.

Rich

[johnclark50]

Hi Rich, I discovered your thread so I thought I would add my morning's sightings. Judging by Kevin's list of early dates the best thing I had was a Sedge Warbler singing in the reed/rush beds at the E end. Also 11 Cormorants, a pair of Teal, at least 2 LRPs, a pair of Lapwings, 4 Snipe, 1 Green Sand, 50 BHGs, 2 ad LBBGs, 1 Common Tern, 5 Sand Martins, 1 Meadow Pipit and Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers singing.

John

[RJSeargent]

Originally Posted by johnclark50

Hi Rich, I discovered your thread so I thought I would add my morning's sightings. Judging by Kevin's list of early dates the best thing I had was a Sedge Warbler singing in the reed/rush beds at the E end. Also 11 Cormorants, a pair of Teal, at least 2 LRPs, a pair of Lapwings, 4 Snipe, 1 Green Sand, 50 BHGs, 2 ad LBBGs, 1 Common Tern, 5 Sand Martins, 1 Meadow Pipit and Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers singing.

John

John,

Thanks. The first Sedge Warbler of the year! Things are looking up.

Rich

[RJSeargent]

No sign of the Sedge or Garden Warbler today but Yellow Wagtail (2) added with males in the Silt Pond. A glorious day with bird song everywhere. Sand Martins (50+), LRP (4), Green Sandpiper (3), Wheatear (4) and Common Terns (4) confirmed that Spring had finally arrived.

Look forward to tomorrows early morning foray.

Rich

[mattytheduke]

A couple of trips to Tice's for me today. In the morning I only located 1 Wheatear on the meadow. There were 2 Common Tern on the workings in addition to the usual gulls and cormorants. A Red Kite flew high over the houses towards Weybourne (West). I also was unable to find a Garden Warbler, although I caught a fleeting glimpse of something in amongst the reedbeds that may have been a Sedge Warbler.
After receiving a text from Rich about the two Yellow Wagtails, I dashed back after lunch but was not able to find them. There were now 5 male Wheatears on the meadow however, and it was good to hear a Whitethroat adding its voice to the already busy chorus of warbler song (at least four or five each of Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Willow Warbler).

Matt.

[JohnnyH]

More new arrivals this morning, Common Sandpiper on the workings, Sedge Warbler in the reedbed, Whitethroat along the bank. Also 2 Green Sands, 6 LRP's, 2 Willow Warbler, Snipe, 30+ Sand Martin, min 5 Chiffchaff, 3+ Blackcap, 2+ Reed Bunting, 3 Skylark, 2 Lapwing, & 2 Little Grebe.

John.