April birds

Saturday 14 April I looked down at the Oval, unfortunately the groundsmen was mowing the grass right in the middle, but even worse than this were 2 apparent birdwatchers walking around the edge of the Oval presumably for the ouzel, which was never going to show. 2 Blackcap were seen along Flycatcher Alley, a male and female. Early evening at Leathes ham, I could see the female Goosander was on the water very close to the boardwalker and people came out with bread to feed the ducks and the Goosander was one of the first ducks to leap out of the water and onto the boardwalk, catching a whole slice of bread and swallowing it in one, a very surreal experience for a species which is usually shy and retiring! 3 pairs of Pintail were still around as was the female Wigeon and the male Wood Duck followed 2 Mallard close in to the right with its high pitched rasping call often announcing its presence before it came into view. 2 Swallow also flew south over the water. A male Blackcap was heard singing here too.