Despite recent waves of Sand Martin and at least 3 Chiffchaffs calling on the reserve, there are no further migrant reports as of 5.00pm on Sunday.

The pools today are busy with the usual crowd, of Shoveler, Little Grebe, Teal, Coot and Moorhen. The Black Headed Gulls have a spent the day courting and chasing any bird stupid enough to cross their lines.

The small birds are busy nest building and I have seen Greenfinch and Long tailed Tit collecting nest material.

Skylarks are out proclaiming territory from the heights and there are small numbers of Meadow Pipits to be found.

Also seen: Tawny Owl, Little Owl, Lapwing, Stock Dove

Martin Grant

3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Mute swan, 9 Canadian Geese, 2 pairs of Teal, 3 Little Grebe, Raven, Buzzard, Kestrel and Stock Dove.

Mick Parton - 7.15am

Teal, Little grebe, Coot 6, Reed Bunting 8, Canadian Goose, Moorhen, Lapwing 15, House Martin 1, Snipe 3 flushed by a Fox. Collard Dove an Stock Dove.

Mick has good views of Fox this morning to the left of the hide where it eventually curled and lay sleeping in the sun.

Pete Jordan 5.10 till 7.00pm

1 Sand Martin, 50 Linnets and Peregrine.

Very pleasant day but with cool northerly breeze. By the time I arrived early evening the sun was already falling and the sky clouded over.

The Goldfinch roost was empty tonight. Out in an open field I watched a dog fox hunting voles. Fascinating to watch, the slow approach, stopping listening and then the crouch low dash and pounce. After several attempts it was successful and ate all in a couple of gulps.

It new I was there but I was sufficiently distant not to worry it, though it checked many times hoping to stare me out!! A Jay passed overhead as I watched and two Buzzards looked on from fence posts.

At the farm a recently seeded area had attracted a large flock of Tree Sparrows 32 in all. What a treat! These day some of us are very lucky to watch these birds but a large flock busily feeding was great to see. This might be the largest number recorded at the farm....I will have to consult the oracle!

The pools were quiet, the gulls away to roost. On the water 7 Coot and a couple of Little Grebes with small numbers of Mallard and Teal. There were 6 Mute Swans and 2 Canadian Geese when I arrived but the Swans soon left. A single Curlew flew overhead with a single repeated call. No Sand Martins tonight and I had hoped for a Willow Warbler somewhere but no luck.

Three new plants in flower this week. All three can be found alongside the road running through the farm. The plant opposite looks like a nettle and it is. But not a Stinging nettle. This is White Dead nettle, Lamium Alba. This plant is in the plant family called Labiatae typically opposite leaves on a square stem. In the spring when it first flowers there is almost rich contrast between the deep white flowers and dark green leaves.

Above is another spring plant Ground Ivy.(Glenchoma hederacea). You can see from the photograph that this is a little beauty but you have get down on your knees to appreciate it. It is very low growing and another member of Labiatae family and therefore the same characteristic. The third plant to flower you can find on the path down to the hide and yes, another Labiatae. This time the flowers Henbit are more a sort of deep purple and very tightly clustered at the top of the flowering stems. Surprising the Stinging nettle isn't really a nettle at all and belongs to the plant family called Urticaceae.