Thursday 30/04/2020

I woke up to the rain battering on the window at just after 05.00, after 10 minutes I made myself get up. By the time I'd had my coffee the rain had stopped but the wind was blowing, so I braved the weather and walked down to Dengemarsh. On the way the resident Yellow Wagtails and Wheatears were seen, the camera was kept i the bag though as the rain had started again. The first of several Cuckoos was at Hookers, also Sedge, Reed and Cetti's Warblers, Common and Lesser Whitethroats, Reed Buntings and a Chiffchaff were all seen but all were very subdued in the strong wind, the Bittern was very half hearted in its booming. Common Terns were shrieking high overhead, Gadwall, Shoveler, Teal, Pochard and Mallard all seemed to be flying around between the lakes. Lapwings, Redshanks and Oystercatchers were chasing anything that had the temerity to go near their nest sites, even Whimbrel and Bar-tailed Godwits weren't immune to there attacks. Mostly today was a hard slog and I found nothing new. Tomorrows another day and just maybe.....

 Cuckoo fly past

 Gadwall

 Lapwing

 Shoveler

 Whimbrel

Whimbrel, Bar-tailed Godwit & Oystercatcher

Wednesday 29/04/2020

No great change today with all the resident birds singing and displaying, the Bitterns in particular were very vocal this morning, Hirundine numbers are picking up and Common Terns are definitely increasing.

 As is usual this pair of Yellow Wagtails greet me more or less as soon as I leave home each morning

 The resident Wheatear looking bedraggled yesterday morning

The same bird this morning

Surprise of the day was this Fieldfare early morning at Dengemarsh (heavily cropped image)

 There are still at least 3 Garganey around, but they are becoming very illusive

Good numbers of Redshank seem to be attempting to breed around Dengemarsh

Very small numbers of Bar-tailed Godwits and Whimbrel around today

 At least 6 Cuckoos were around Dengemarsh today

 Displaying Sedge warbler

 Displaying Sedge warbler

 Late morning at least 30 Swifts appeared over Dengemarsh

Monday 27/04/2020

My usual early morning Yellow Wagtail

 Lots of Bar-tailed Godwits and Whimbrel have been dropping into the Boulderwall Fields

This Red Fox is a regular between Cooks and Tanners

 Common Whitethroats seem to be be in every patch of Bramble

A brief booming Bittern (please turn your volume up)

Good numbers of Lesser Whitethroats are also in, though not usually as showy as this one

 Reed Warblers are chuntering in all the Reed beds and ditches of Dengemarsh

 The Sedge Warblers are still very vocal

 Reed Buntings are numerous

 A beautiful Chaffinch

 Little Grebe, more often heard than seen at the moment

Noisy Oystercatchers chasing each other all over the reserve

 Several Hobbys around today

 Probably a resident pair of Wheatears

Saturday 25/04/2020

 My usual walk around to and around Dengemarsh this morning started cloudy and very cold, as soon as I walked out the door a Cuckoo was calling and a Black-tailed Godwit flew over, the ditches were fairly quiet in the cold wind but the Yellow Wagtails and Reed Buntings greeted me as I made my way to Dengemarsh. Arriving at the hay fields a flock of 7 Garganey dropped in, a Black-tailed Godwit was new in. A Bittern was booming half heartedly but most things were very subdued. Another look at the hay field found 2 summer plumaged Spotted Redshanks had dropped in along with aWood sandpiper and an LRP. As the sun burned the cloud away Hirundines were appearing, including c40 Common Swifts and at least 5 very high flying Hobbys that were hawking over the marsh, hopefully there will be many more over the coming days giving better photo opportunities. Common Terns are now a regular sight chasing and calling each other high over the marsh, usually at least one of them is carrying a small fish. As soon as the sun was fully out the Hirundines disappeared but the Warblers started to sing and display in earnest.

 My usual early morning welcome

 3 of the 7 Garganey that dropped in early morning

 Garganey

2 Summer plumaged Spotted Redshanks rather distant

High flying Hobby with probably a Hairy Dragonfly

 1 of 5 very high flying Hobbys