24th March 2012

Weather :- warm and sunny with little wind.

Very quiet on the reservoir. One lonely great black-backed gull, great crested grebes still here and now have a pair of tufted ducks. Otherwise plenty of mallards and coots, one canada goose and one mute swan.

Canal showed a nesting pair of moorhens and more mallards, but did hear the first 2 chiffchaffs calling well, with a good view of one.

Netherton hill showed greenfinches, one goldfinch flying over, plenty of woodpigeons and 6 great black-backed gulls flying over. Third chiffchaff seen.

Made it part way to Daphnes pool, which is deeply buried in trees and I rarely manage to find. Another chiffchaff and a pheasent calling.

Back in the woods, good views of male and female bullfinches, 6 buzzards, sparrowhawk, fifth chiffchaff calling, along with all the usual suspects. Both nuthatches showing well and nest found. A pair of long-tailed tits nesting as well. Male chaffinches also showing well.

Otherwise grey squirrels, buff and white tailed bumblebees, first red-tailed bumblebee, lots 7-spot ladybirds around and first peacock, comma and small tortoise butterflys seen.

Blackthorn flowering and goat willow catkins.