This evening...

Headed down to Holywell at about 19:15 tonight, greeted by Blackcap, Willow Warbler and Chiff Chaff on the track down to the hide. The pond held 23 Tufted Duck, 2 male 1 female Gadwall, 4 Little Grebe, male Mute Swan, 10 Coot, 3 Mallard, 2 Cormorant, 33 Herring Gull, 3 Great Black Backed Gull, 1 Grey Heron, 4 Canada Geese with 7 young and 2 Moorhen. The Blue Tits have once again nested in the right hand bench in the public hide, and now have chicks, it would be greatly appreciated if anyone visiting the public hide stayed to the far left bench.

The walked along to the East Pool produced 3 Whitethroat and 2 Sedge Warbler, the pool itself is still pretty substantial, sustaining 5 Canada Geese, although no sign of their chicks (present a few days ago), 3 Lapwings on the nest and a bird with its chick, a pair of Moorhen, a pair of Little Grebe, pair of Coot, and 5 Mallard.

I wandered on over the backtrack, and down to the Obelisk area, large number of Whitethroat have now set up territories in the hedgerows and Yellowhammers voiced their presence. The dene was alive with song, I had forgotten how much I love this time of year. The Barn Owl put an appearance in as I reached the Horse field on the way back to the car, being mobbed by Carrion Crows quite high up.