Tony Seagrave 700-1130hrs

Tony was up early this morning and managed a fairly extensive list - here are some of the
highlights; Sand Martin 2, Swallow, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Greenshank, Willow
Warbler 2, Snipe, Red Legged Partridge, Coal Tit 4, Meadow Pipit, Chiffchaff.

Jon Lloyd

Nice day but a strong North Easterly wind - strong enough to move the hide slightly!

The Eastern fields were quiet though the 3 male Chiffchaffs were still giving it all their worth. They seem to have taken territory by the bridge and another bird in the trees surrounding Tibberton Grange pool.

I returned to the Hawthorn paddock to retake a photograph of a speedwell growing at the field edge here. A Willow Warbler called from the Blackthorn at the Bridge end of the paddock.

I sat in the hide for short time and picked up a pair of Sand Martin about 2.00pm. The pools were quiet. There are still 6 or seven Coot here and 3 Canadian Geese that keep falling out with each other. The Little Grebes were quiet and obviously hidden away from the wind though I did catch one bird calling. There were several Lapwings in the surrounding fields and several came down to bathe and drink.

This week has brought the butterflies out I found a Peacock basking on some Blackthorn flowers at the buttery and Small Tortoiseshell have been recorded now for several weeks. Ihave also recorder large and Small White.The latest plant out in flower is Field Speedwell(see photo).This can be found amongst the Henbit on field near the farm.

Martin Grant

Hi Jon today Sunday 13th April I have been to the Buttery Reservoir I recorded 64 Mute Swans half of which I got the ring numbers. I don't think I missed many because probably half were un-ringed. I also recorded Willow Warbler singing, an Oystercatcher, a Snipe, Cormorant, Swallow, Blackcap and Chiffchaff. Has anyone had a Willow Warbler on the Weald Moors? The Little Grebe I saw building the nest at Wallfarm must have been the same one you saw it was building in the same place.

Ed Wilson

Whitethroat - the first record I believe for Wall Farm this year. Ed also reported Little Ringed Plover which is a very infrequent visitor and a good spot for the Wall!

MONDAY - 14-4-03

Jon Lloyd 1800-2000hrs

Not so bright and sunny today and fairly strong wind again. Despite this it has been a very warm day.

The field, by the pool at the Grange, was being ploughed when I arrived and it was great to watch a pair of Pied Wagtails flitting up and down the furrows finding newly turned food. A Kestrel watched on from the tip of young tree in the hedge where it seem to balance precariously.There was a Mistle Thrush here too, just sitting in the field near the edge. There is usually one around here and a pair guarded the berries on the roadside Holly tree here all through the winter.The Grange pool held two male Tufted Ducks and a Coot. I spotted two Coal Tits in the trees around the pool.

The pools were fairly quiet. Three Galloway had been turned into the wetland area. I stopped to photograph a Curlew in the field on the right as you walked down to the hide.

Two Black Headed Gulls floated down onto the water. The Canadian Goose was still standing on the same rush platform as yesterday. Plenty of Coots and Moorhen and few Teal around. The Little Grebe was fishing in front of the hide.

Also seen: Long Tailed Tit, Buzzard, Greenfinch, Tree Sparrow, Stock Dove.

TUESDAY Mick Parton -Early Morning

Find below the sightings from my visit to the WALL FARM HIDE today.Usual suspects plus:-SWALLOW(2)LONG TAILED TIT(2)CURLEW(1)MAGPIE(3)MUTE SWAN(7)GREY HERON(4).A MALE SPARROWHAWK in the reed bed, to the right of the HIDE,chasing REED BUNTINGS on foot,he had no luck, not surprisingly but it was quite funny to watch.

WEDNESDAY

Jon Lloyd - the warmest day so far this year. At nine the sun was up and warm. I found a Grey Squirrel asleep but my camera woke it. Fascinating to watch it sleep in the vertical position its claws locked onto the branch. This is more traditionally the pose for melting in when the animal is concealing itself from an enemy.

The Curlews were giving it the full 12 bars this morning, the full breeding call.

The Buttery had the usual congregation of Swans but only 38 this morning feeding out on the lush green meadow. The Buttery pool turned up an Oystercatcher sat on the bank preening.Martin had seen this later. There were six Tufted Duck here and two Little Grebes. The willow scrub in this areas is brilliant for Warblers and other small birds. I picked up Black Cap, Chifchaff and Willow Warbler here, all of them feeding and singing rather than sitting still like a Blackbird or Song Thrush so they took a bit of finding amongst the dense undergrowth, the Blackcap most difficult. I watched the female approach the male and flutter her wings. This warm sun seems to be doing the trick.

There were a good selection of butterflies around to day, Orange Tip, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Small White, Large White and best of all the first Brimstone of the year.

Asd I wlaked back through Kinnersley two Swallows were sat on the telegraph wires in the centre of the village and a single House Martin buzzed overhead pursing the plentiful insect prey.

THURSDAY