A great morning walk in the sunshine, but nippy when the clouds obscured the sun at times!

A pair of Greylag Geese flew over Shemmy Moss and were then seen on Gull Pool. The fields east of the Pine Belt were being ploughed and 2 Oystercatchers fed there. At least 12 Lapwings mooched around in fields that have been ploughed, no doubt that nests and young have been destroyed and/or predated.

A distant displaying Sparrowhawk was seen. The star birds today were 2(1m) Stonechats, a pair, on Shemmy Moss, after an absence of 25 days! A breeding attempt may now be possible, everything crossed. Also here were 2m Yellowhammers, again after no sign for some while, and 2(1m) Reed Buntings together. A Garden Warbler was again singing on Shemmy Moss and a pair of Whitethroats was seen around a bramble clump, obviously on territory.

A morning walk with a brief visit back pm, sunny and warm.

At least 35 Tufted Ducks were on Big Pool, a good number in late April. On Shemmy Moss 4(3drk) Teal were seen. Also on Shemmy Moss a pair of Mallards with a well grown duckling and a Mallards nest with 11 eggs, well hidden so I hope she hatches them safely. In the fields off Sandy lane that were being ploughed I found 12 Lapwings and one small young that I hope can survive now that the cover has all been ploughed away

In the ploughed fields were 2 White Wagtails and 16 Pied Wagtails, the former being the first seen this year and overdue, but ploughing is late. Also over these fields were 2 Swallows whilst 20 Sand Martins were over Big Pool. Again 2 Ravens were over the mosses. A Chiffchaff was seen carrying nest material on Shemmy Moss where a Whitethroat was heard.

A limited afternoon walk just in the Big Pool area, sunny and warm.

There were 17 Stock Doves and 10 Lapwings in the field east of the Pine Belt. A Goldcrest fed in trees near the main track.

An early start on Newchurch with sun forecast, which came but a cool wind in exposed areas

A drake Teal was on Shemmy Moss. A Common Snipe was on Shemmy Moss and must be a breeding candidate now.

A first for this year (anywhere) were 3 House Martins, consisting of my first one over Big Pool and then 2 more high over the mosslands. Also seen were 1 Swallow over Big Pool and 80 Sand Martins, 30 over Big Pool and 50 over the mosslands. There were 4 Mistle Thrushes on patch with two in the former Leek Field. A male Reed Bunting was on Shemmy Moss as was a Linnet carrying nesting material. There were 2 Whitethroats on Shemmy Moss and a profusion of Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps spread across the whole patch. A pair of Long-tailed Tits were on the edge of Shemmy Moss.

Late News for 14th April 2024: A Treecreeper was in a thin-branched elder just inside the entrance barriers from the car parking area, this species really is abundant and widespread this year on patch.

A morning on Newchurch proved very productive, sunny and hot!

On Shemmy Moss the female Mallard has 1 well-grown duckling left. Also here a pair of Teal was seen. A lone Greylag Goose was also on the mosses.

Possibly the best bird of the day was the first Green Woodpecker of the year here, heard yaffling on Abbot's Moss. A Raven was heard cronking here too. At least 10 Stock Doves were in fields off Sandy Lane. On Shemmy Moss the first Whitethroat for anywhere in the UK was seen and heard. At least 10 Willow Warblers are now singing with lots of Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps still. A pair of Linnets were on Shemmy Moss as were 2(1m) Reed Buntings.

Not a lot to report today, other than 2 Sparrowhawks (one by Big Pool and one over Shemmy Moss) and at least 12 Blackcaps including a pair in courtship, and 1 Willow Warbler.

Morning walk, dull and not warm.

No Goldeneye today! I did have 4(2drk) Teal, a pair on Gull Pool and a pair on Shemmy Moss. On Shemmy Moss I saw the Water Rail kill for the first time and the feathers were plucked, so a bird kill, almost certainly Sparrowhawk as suspected.

A Willow Warbler was heard singing much more strongly from the main scrub at Shemmy Moss rather than on the fringes as last time.

Went down in heavy drizzle today as my best chance of a hirundine, and it worked

On Big Pool there were 4(1drk) Goldeneye today. Over on Shemmy Moss 4(2drk) Teal were seen, in two pairs. Success with my quest was 12 Sand Martins flying over Big Pool but at mid-height rather than low over the surface, my first here for 2024.

A large female Sparrowhawk flashed across in front of me on the edge of Shemmy Moss and the small passerines went into alarm call overdrive as it landed in the middle of an elder! One of said passerines was a cracking little Goldcrest, brave soul! The male and female Stonechats were still on Abbot's Moss. A Couple of Linnets were also seen. Generally the rain kept most stuff hidden and I don't blame them!

Fab walks am and pm :) Sunny warm and a tad breezy!

On Big Pool 5(1drk) Goldeneye, the permutations continue! The pair of Gadwall were still on Shemmy Moss and a pair of Teal were on Gull Pool. Also on Gull Pool 24 Tufted Ducks was a good count. A Cormorant flew over Shemmy Moss. An Oystercatcher fed on the nursery fields. Three Common Snipe flew up from Shemmy Moss. A Water Rail called continuously on Shemmy Moss and was seen too.

The best birds of the day were 2(1m) Stonechats on Abbot's Moss. The pair were mobile and elusive though. This was closely followed by a brief snatch of Cetti's Warbler song from the margins of Gull Pool, no chance of seeing the bird from where I was even if it had showed! A nice group of 3 Ravens was over Abbot's Moss, 2 in display and 1 chasing them off! Also over the mosses were 3 Buzzards including one in skydancing display. A Kestrel was also over Shemmy Moss.  A Treecreeper and a Nuthatch were in Gull Pool Wood. Linnets were singing on Shemmy Moss as were Reed Buntings. Just one Blackcap was heard along with 20+Chiffchaffs.