Linnets

Lade - warm, dry and sunny, E3 - This morning`s Ted walk took us around the local patch where spring was in the air with Dabchicks trilling from the reed-beds to Chiffchaffs and Great Tits singing in the willow swamp. There was a noticeable increase in Linnets and Reed Buntings in the dry and damp scrub respectively, having just returned from their winter quarters, while several Common Buzzards, Marsh Harriers and singles of Sparrowhawk and Red Kite thermalled over the airfield. Duck numbers continue to fall away with only two Goldeneyes noted, and a pair of Mediterranean Gulls passed high overhead mewing loudly. We then hiked south around Kerton quarry where a Hoopoe had been seen yesterday and first thing this morning, but did not show during the two hours I was on site. However, there was plenty of wader activity including a high tide roost of 200 Oystercatchers, plus three pairs of Redshanks, Lapwings and a pair of Ringed Plovers. On the wildfowl front small numbers of Gadwall, Shoveler and a pair of Shelducks were present along with six Egyptian Geese. Elsewhere across the complex a few pairs of Stonechats, Meadow Pipits and Skylarks, a Kestrel and two Dartford Warblers were logged. In all a very productive morning in glorious spring sunshine with a bright blue sky and the gorse in full bloom and smelling wonderful.