Saturday 31st March

A visit between 06.45 and 08.45 today. Quite chilly with a light cold wind.

I parked at Brook House as the scrub either side of the path as you walk into the site is often good for early Spring warblers. Along here this morning the only birds of note were Chiffchaff, Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming and a Green Woodpecker. The East scrub/open area was also quite quiet. I crossed to the scrape area and walked around the round pond. A few Reed Buntings singing here and a Meadow Pipit doing it's 'parachuting' display flight. As I walked pack toward the Millstream from here the air was suddenly filled with around 40 Sand Martin, as I scanned through them I picked up one and then a second Swallow.

Along the Millstream 2 Blackcap were singing from the far bank and one showed very well. These were the first of 6 Blackcap heard singing this morning.

Around Brooklands Lake and up towards Abbey Mead. 5+ Teal took off from the river and the first of 5 Cettis called. 2 more Green Woodpecker flew across Abbey Mead.

Back to Birling and this afternoon I had a Peacock butterfly and noticed that the Wood Anenomes are out in Ryarsh Wood and Stitchwort has joined the Celendine along the hedge banks.