Tuesday 17th April

Another pre-work visit between 06.10 and 07.15 this morning. The weather was overcast and much cooler than recent days.

A Nightingale again sang from close to the Water Works entrance, the first of 4 I heard this morning. 3 Willow Warbler were in song in the West Scrub and I disturbed a Green Woodpecker as I walked through. Down towards Brook House I heard the second and third Nightingale in full song, but little else apart from several Blackcap.

Back across the east scrub a Whitethroat burst into song briefly and another Willow Warbler was singing. Over the railway towards Abbey Mead which was fairly quiet, around towards the sunken marsh where both a Cuckoo and Turtle Dove were on the wires, a Lesser Whitethroat called from the dense scrub and a 5th Willow Warbler was in song.

Around Brooklands and through the car park to the Millstream, the 6th Willow Warbler was in song and another Whitethroat was singing along the path.

About half way along the Millstream I had excellent views of a confiding Water Vole and then another swimming across the Millstream near the bridge by the scrape. Shame the light wasn't great but managed a quick snap.

WATER VOLE ALONG THE MILLSTREAM