12th April - loudy, misty morning, slowly clearing to high cloud, odd shower later, warming to 13C, light breeze SW

At about 0730 something flushed the birds in the village, including 12 Goldfinch, Pied Wagtails and a few Starling, presumably the Sparrowhawk dashed through.

In the long spinney to the west a Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Coal Tit were singing loudly.

I had a message that 2 Sandwich Tern were at the local reservoir, an unusual occurrence, but I could not go straight off to see.  I managed a brief visit later, but too later.  However, there were some other interest, namely on the dam a male Wheatear and 2 Common Sandpipers, both are birds of passage here. A rather distant record shot of the Wheatear, that is tricky to spot against the background.

Also, at the reservoir there were 2 male Treecreepers singing, 6 Goldeneye, two pairs of Shoveler and the single male Pochard.  A mixed flock, about 60, of Swallows, Sand Martins and House Martins fed overhead.

During the afternoon I popped in to Brandon Marsh, there were many Chifffchaff, Willow Warblers and Blackcap singing.  On the marshes there were at least 4 Redshank and Oystercatcher, 60 Shoveler, a pair of Pintail, a few Teal, 5 Gadwall, 2 Shelduck and 2 Great-crested Grebe.  2 pairs of Lapwing were holding territory, a single Black tailed Godwit was feeding on the Teal pool.

A pair of Little grebe were near the Carlton hide.  Four Stock Dove were in their usual trees from the Ted Jury hide.  A splendid Moorhen swam in front of the hide showing off its colours well.

A Cetti's Warbler was singing and showing very well in front of the East Marsh hide, these are usually very difficult to see as they stay in cover.