Cetti`s Warbler

ARC/Tower Pits - mild, sunny, NW 2 - Spent the morning surveying singing Cetti`s Warblers on the bird reserve in bright spring sunshine. Despite its obvious, explosive song this bird is not as easy to survey accurately as it might appear. The males defend large territories, which can attract several females, and they nip around pretty rapid between bursts of song. However, the cold snap of last month doesn't seem to have reduced their numbers noticeably as there were plenty of males in song around the two pits, particularly on Tower pits.

                               Cetti`s Warbler (by David Featherbe)

  Chiffchaff, Sedge and Willow Warblers were also in song and a Yellow Wagtail over the Desert was my first of the spring. As the morning warmed up a small `kettle` of Marsh Harriers and Buzzards soared over by the airport along with a cracking Red Kite. Also noted during the survey, Little Egret, two Shelduck, 12 Teal, four Goldeneye, Kestrel, Snipe, Green Woodpecker, Long-tailed Tit and Stonechat.
Lade  - On the local patch this afternoon the two Long-tailed Ducks put in an appearance, while the first Swallows of spring were over the willow swamp.
  Other news this afternoon concerned the discovery of a Hoopoe at the Midley drying barns by T&B H.