6th May - cloudy, cool NE wind, 10C, occasional drizzle early

Today was pretty miserable, very cool feeling and non-spring like all round.

I had planned a dawn visit Stanford reservoir today, so was up and there early, being greeting by a barn Owl that was still out hunting.  Despite the weather quite a few birds were singing, a Cetti's Warbler gave a loud burst of song right next to me. The cuckoo was busy calling near the main reed bed.

A green Sandpiper was feeding in the inlet bay. The Greenshank (8) , a Grey Plover, Ringed Plover, Oystercatcher pair and 2 'Barwit' were present around the shore.  On the water a pair of Shoveler, Teal and Shoveler were found, plus the other usual duck.

Chris text to say he had just spotted 2 Sanderling in the inlet bay, so I made my way back there, they were there still with a Dunlin and Ringed Plover, until disturbed by a Carrion Crow.

Sanderling (photo Chris Hubbard)

Back at the village the Swallows were busy going in and out the sheds, sorting their nests out.  A Mistle Thrush was singing at the top of the village.  A bird was then spotted flying over northward, a little distant but its flight, shape and 'jizz' indicated it was a Curlew.

A little later i had to visit Frolsworth, so I popped in to the manor lake area.  A Great-crested Grebe pair have a nest and are incubating, 10 Swallows and a single Swift were feeding over the lake, a Whitethroat was singing from the hedge.  Goldfinch were numerous, several Linnets flew over and about 8 Yellowhammers flew in to the hedge next to the game cover crop.

During the morning news came that a Great reed Warbler had been found singing in the reed bed at Albert Village lake.  Not that far away and I have never been there, so I decided to visit and take a look.  I headed off to the reed bed area where there was a small crowd all hoping the see the GRW.  It had not been singing for a while, but after about 30 mins it started its loud characteristic song.  Although very close in the reeds it was not visible at all, in fact I never did get to see the birds just hear it.  Others did little better with just fleeting glimpses.  A good number of Reed Warblers and Reed Buntings were present often appearing in the reeds.

However, the was a drake Ruddy Duck present next to the reed bed, so this was a colourful distraction.  A Common Sandpiper flew round the lake and landed on the island.