A steady trickle of migrants

Monday 11th April (early morning) felt like a return to winter, with the temperature plunging 10 degrees (from the summery 21 degrees celsius we had been enjoying) and a strong north, north-west wind as I checked the Oval and the North Denes no migrants were seen and appropriately the only notable bird seen was the Iceland Gull on the groynes, on one nearer Ness Point.

Wednesday 13th April early evening, a trip to Fisher Row on a somewhat gloomy and cool-tinged evening revealed up to 5 singing Willow Warblers, the first seen singing from a Willowy bush just left from the bottom of the entrance hill. A Muntjac Deer crossed the railway line. A Chiff- Chaff seen just past the bowl and by Horseshoe point pool, 2 Gadwall (male and female), 4 Egyptian Geese and 2 Wigeon (again a pair were seen), up to 8 Reed Bunting flew up from the reeds nearly all were males. A Grasshopper Warbler was heard reeling here and another heard from Rist's Marsh. Also on the return path by Rist's Marsh, a Sedge warbler was heard singing from within the undergrowth.

Up to 4 Blackcap heard singing by the wooded area and 2 singing Chiff- Chaff and another Muntjac deer seen on the marsh too.