Well you know what they say. It's not what you know, but who you know that matters. I have the good fortune to be friends with Tony and the Redditch Ringing Group, and they had the wherewithal to gain official access to Spernal STW.
So this morning I had the opportunity to spend a pleasant hour or so in their company within the hallowed ground of the sewage treatment works.
While the ringers got on with what they do best, I spent my time trying to boost my year list. The first of at least two Cetti's Warblers piped up almost immediately. I scanned the small lagoon which is hard to see from outside the fence and counted 15 Teal, a few Mallard, three Moorhens, and eventually one of at least two Water Rails whose squeals had been heard.
A new highlight was two pairs of Mandarins which flew over, unfortunately wrong-footing me camera-wise. Actually I didn't manage decent photos of anything before I had to leave. A single Chiffchaff was singing, and at least three Reed Buntings were no doubt preparing for the breeding season.
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| Chiffchaff in the early morning light |
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| Reed Bunting |
I wish I could have spent longer there, but Cetti's Warbler and Mandarin were added to the year-list so it was mission accomplished.
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