Fairly bright with some sunshine starting off this morning. The sunshine improved for a while before it once again began to cloud over.
Plenty of birds singing as I made my way from the car park to the lake via the hedge by the visitor centre with Blackcap, Willow warbler, Chiffchaff, Dunnock, Wren, Chaffinch and Whitethroat calling. A lot more Whitethroat around this visit.
The lake was pretty quiet. Gadwall x9 were almost as numerous as the Tufted Duck and Mallard. I was pleased to see the Kingfishers again. I'd not seen them for a couple of visits. It looks like nesting is still under way as they swapped over just as I arrived. A pair of Canada Geese dropped in for a while before being seen off by the Swans. Shelduck x2 passed over heading west. A couple of Sand Martins and Swallows made a brief visit as well.
Water Rail and Little Grebe were calling. Goldfinch, Linnet, Wilow Warbler, Chaffinch and Whitethroat were in the bushes alongside the railway.
The remaining bench from the twin benches has been relocated further back and tape strung along above the crumbling edge of the bank more of which seems to have fallen in the lake. It will be interesting to see what else is done to stop the erosion.
Walking round to the bench near the hide I came across two more Whitethroat, Chiffchaff x2, a Blackcap pair and a singing Sedge Warbler right by the bench. 5-6 LTT were flitting about the same area. Lots of birds again in the trees above and around the hide with Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Chaffinch, LTT, Willow Warbler, Blackbird, Blue Tit and Dunnock.
Whilst sat watching a Kingfisher preening and then two Sprrowhawks soaring I heard what sounded like the 'Hoo-poo-poo' of a Hoopoe from over towards Claxton Beck. I thought I was mistaken at first but as I made my way over to Faith Wood it called again and then again. I spent the next hour or so walking along Claxton Back and then along the cycleway pinpointing it's location in the field to the right of Cloff Bridge which contains a cereal crop. In frustration gave up tying to see it and had to be content with eharing the call.
A Sedge Warbler was back by the bridge by Calxton Beck/Cow Bridge Beck and another by the next bridge along over Cow Bridge Beck. No Grasshopper Warblers heard today.
Butterflies - Speckled Wood, Orange Tip, Small Tortoiseshell and Peacock.