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| GWE |
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| GWE |
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| GSW kept off food by c@@p doves |
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| Lapwing looking good in sun |
A good sunny day and an incident free journey to the reserve after yesterday's two close shaves with Mercedes drivers who presumably are issued with a different version of the Highway Code; one with no pages!!
So, no sign of Hawfinch on the way down the zigzag nor later at the churchyard despite being seen by a few other visitors. One or two close Goldcrests and Bullfinches but little else. With the south brooks being so much warmer and sheltered most activity was here, with all the usual dabblers and eight close Snipe plus a Stonechat. Later, two Barn Owls on view briefly were presumably flushed by grounds staff, a male Marsh Harrier coursed back and forth and a Peregrine was on a post; Red Kite/Sparrowhawk/many Buzzards/two Kestrels rounded out the raptors. A surprise Great White Egret appeared off the reserve and, despite landing on the south brooks three times, carried on with a whistle-stop, anti-clockwise tour before disappearing - a very welcome reserve tick. A Raven was watched from the tea terrace and later it or another went northwards. Mammal-wise just Red Fox and what was probably a Bank Vole. Perhaps still a little cold for first Butterfly or Hoverfly for the year. And maybe just three weeks or so 'til the first Adders!!
Pretty much nil in a short stop at Broadmarsh despite the Long-tailed Duck being seen this morning.
