Thursday 1st February

A visit this morning between 10am and 12noon. Again I was pushing a push-chair so was a little hampered!

First bird of note was the Little Egret, again perched high in a tree at the Lunsford Lane end of the scrape. It was then flushed towards the scrape itself and I saw it later emerging from one of the ditches. Also a Chiffchaff calling nearby.

I had a good walk around the area this morning but it was generally fairly quiet. 3 Cettis calling. One along the Millstream, one near the railway tunnel to Brooklands and another near Abbey Mead. A single Fieldfare (which have been relatively scarce here this winter) was feeding with 5 Mistle Thrush and a flock of 20 Woodpigeon around the west scrub area. 2 Sparrowhawk as well, one along the Millstream and another near the railway.

In general lots of bird song this morning - Spring is on the way.....