Sunday March 31

An overnight cold front has dropped the temperature and caused the wind to swing around to a light northerly. It was mostly cloudy, but there were a few sunny spells.

A late start due to the clocks going forward. A walk around the horse field was disappointing, with a single Redwing the only thrush present. A new Blackcap sang from somewhere in front of Clowes Wood, and a few Chiffchaffs also managed a few phrases, but the cooler weather wasn't really conducive for bird song.

My luck changed when I spotted a Mute Swan arriving at the Kingfisher Pool. My first of the year here, and one of the water birds I was getting a little anxious about due to the absence of the main pool.

Mute Swan

Its bill was rather dull pink (rather than bright orange) so I suspect it was a youngish bird prospecting for a territory.

The flash field was quite lively. A flock of 18 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and four Black-headed Gulls were in residence along with 18 Teal and 14 Lapwings. The wader tally was improved, the three Little Ringed Plovers had been joined by three Green Sandpipers and five Snipe.

Green Sandpiper

The sunnier spells encouraged a few bees to fly, I noticed a Tawny Mining Bee for example, but only one butterfly ventured out. At least it was new for the year, a Speckled Wood.

Speckled Wood