MONDAY - Jon Lloyd

A very warm day with good sunny spells. It hasn't rained at all today which has been unusual for recent weather! The afternnon was bright and clear and I walked the wildflower meadow to see how things were going. The Oxeye Daisys (see Photo) have begun to flower but only a few. They should be a real treat when they all come out. It was great to see a wide variety of grasses in this field and in the corner a perfusion of Hay Rattle (see photo).There were a number of different blue flowers out today including several speedwells. The background to this page shows Germander Speedwell, and the photo here shows Persian Speedwell.

I found small patch of Borage in roadside verge and see top photo and another plant from this family in a field entrance, Bugloss. There were small groups of Linnets feeding in here and a Whitethroat calling from the hedge.

The pool was fairly quiet today. The Canadian Geese were proudly floating around, head high, with four goslings corralled between the parents. A Peregrine sat out in the field behind the wetland preening and a Buzzard kept it company. There Lapwings in this field two and a pair seems to have taken up residence on the wetland to the left of the hide. There is still a Little Grebe about, I think this bird is nesting and the mate is sitting tight somewhere. We did watch it nest building to the back of the pool. Thereare 8 Black headed gulls sitting on nests now, I dont hink any of the eggs have hatched yet.

A Sedge Warbler sang from the taller vegetation out in the middle somewhere. I tried to find it several times now and failed every time.

With the help of Tony Seagrave who was down before me this morning here is the also seen list:

Red legged and Grey Partridge, Cuckoo, Whitethroat, Blackcap, Swallow, Swift, Corn Bunting, Skylark, Yellowhammer, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, House Sparrow, Tree Sparrow, Greenfinch, Kestrel, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Song Thrush, Blackbird, Heron, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Raven, Coot , Moorhen, Stock Dove, Wood Pigeon, Magpie, Chiffcahff, Reed Bunting, Linnet, Curlew.