19th Apr 2019: More warbling

Nothing too exciting so far this week, but the spring migrants keep passing through and there's been a few new ones added to the year list.

On Monday John had our first Whitethroat of the year that was also heard on Wednesday.  On Monday Ian Rowe also recorded our first Dunlin of the year and another Oystercatcher was reported by an unknown observer (via Mike Pollard).

Courtesy and copyright of JFT

On Tuesday the Whooper Swan was still up the valley, seen by JFT.

This morning it was generally quiet but a Marsh Tit was singing in the wood (I've not heard one singing here for a few years). The Whooper Swan was still in the usual field up the valley, with three Sedge Warblers, two Whitethroats, Willow Warbler, Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs all singing in the nearby scrub, hedge and trees - not a mix of birds I ever expected to record on patch! On my way out  I met Clive and Jim who had found another Sedge Warbler near the entrance and later John also had a Lesser Whitethroat along the river.


We are approaching the same dates that Wood Warbler has been recorded in the Spiceball Park to Grimsbury Woodland stretch for the last few years. It would be great to have one again!