March 12th

Up early this morning to check out yesterday's late report of two female Bearded Tits in the small reedbed in front of main car park . Met up with P Oddy and J Swan who also had same idea but to no avail , didn't really hold much hope to start with but you have to try. Anyway small consolation was our first returning Chiffchaff with three singing one on track down from visitor's centre , one behind the sailing club and the third along eastern side in the wood. Also good news I confirmed with the night fisherman that two Tawny Owls were again calling last night so another addition to our site list. Also noted this morning were a single Cormorant and Grey Heron flying over , and the three Little Grebe's still present on the mere. Bullfinch , Goldfinch , Reed Bunting , Goldcrest and six Song Thrush best of the rest. Jack Swan also gave me the dates he had Yellow Wagtail so another addition again to the site list. I was back home when John Spottiswood texted me to say a drake Shelduck has just dropped in and a single Raven heading west. And the Chiffchaff records are eleven days earlier than last year's.