I returned to the patch on Sunday 1st May, after a few days in Devon, to a pair of Common Terns(87)

on the lake.

One of the Common Terns

On the walk back home I was delighted to see my first Swift(88) of the year wheeling over the village.

Todays walk started with the Lesser Whitethroat still singing at the top of Kirkins and as I walked down Furnace Lane a pair of Marsh Tits made their way up the hedgerow to the feeders in one of the gardens.Also there I saw my first Blackbird fledgling of the spring.

The Willow Warbler is still singing in the usual spot so I'm still hopeful.

As I walked down the farm track I watched a Crow chasing a Cuckoo down the new orchard. It seems that everything dislikes these birds!

The lake held four Mandarin drakes and the Coots appear to be nest building but unfortunately the Great-crested Grebes have lost their eggs.

The southern end held a singing Garden Warbler(89) but the Reed Warbler wasn't heard.Four Swallows and a single House Martin were flying around the lake and the Swift was flying was over the village again.

In total 44 species were seen of which 10 were summer visitors. 

With the nights getting shorter I am able to have a quick walk at the lake on my way to work and on 19th I found a Wheatear on the farm track and also a Fieldfare was present.A walk after work produced a Lesser Whitethroat in Kirkins and the Cuckoo was calling loudly.
The lake held a Coot plus the pair of Great-crested Grebes. The Kestrel pair were perched in the old dead oak and one of the local Buzzards circled over Shirrenden wood.
On the 22nd 4 Buzzards were seen plus a Sparrowhawk and a Kestrel and the lake now had two Coots on it.
The following day the first Whitethroat(83) of the year was on the Swigs Hole side.
The 23rd was cold when I left home so I wasn't filled with optimism but it turned out to be a good day with another Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Whitethroats, 2 Willow Warblers,5 Chiffchaffs,3 Blackcaps, a flyover Tree Pipit(84) 4 Swallows,a Cuckoo and the first Reed Warbler(85) calling loudly from the corner of the lake.

One of the Swallow pairs

The following day one of theWillow Warblers was still singing from suitable habitat, so I am hoping it may stay.
A walk just into dark had me thrilled to find 2 Nightingales(86) singing.Fantastic!

                                                    The Fieldfare was still around today

This evening a single Siskin came to the garden feeders.

It has taken me till 11th of April to get my first Little Owl(76) of the year on the patch.
The following day I was delighted to find two Wheatears (77) in the old currant field in Furnace Lane which was particularly pleasing as I had been checking this field as I had a feeling something could turn up there!
The 15th turned up the first Cuckoo (78) but it remains the only one so far this spring.
The following day and I was greeted by a Willow Warbler (79) singing in the back garden.
Down at the lake I found a second Willow warbler in the lakeside trees.Unfortunately these delightful little birds no longer breed on the patch due to all the suitable habitat being destroyed.
Chiffchaff numers have increased to five singing males and two females.

One of the female Chiffchaffs

Four House Martins (80) added to the years list as they flew straight through.

That evening I decided to go out just before dark to listen for Nightingales just in case one had turned up. None were found but I did have two Snipe (81) going over just as the sun set.

The follwing morning there was a frost as I left the house so I was surprised to find a Lesser Whitethroat (82) singing at the top of Kirkins and even more surprised to have a second down at the lake.

Five summer migrants were seen on Sunday including the Lesser Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Swallow, Wllow Warbler and Blackcap.

The last week of March produced a few new species for the year list with a single Greylag Goose(70) and three of Tufted Ducks(71) on the 24th, followed the next day by the first Chiffchaff(72) of spring. The same day in the late afternoon as I went to fill up the feeder,down by the lake my second Red Kite drifted over west.
My good fortune continued on 26th with a Red-legged Partridge(73) in the small orchard on Furnace Lane.
All of a sudden the winter thrushes have cleared out with two Redwings seen on the 31st which will possibly be the last this spring.The same day there were 4 Chiffchaffs around the patch.
The first Blackcap(74) was found singing intermittently behind the pumping station.Chiffchaffs numbered five and a single Fieldfare was at the lake.The lake held a pair of Teal,4 Great-crested Grebes,2 Kingfishers and a pair of Mandarins.
Dropping in to the lake on my way home from work,on 5th, produced two Swallows(75) going west as well as 3 Fieldfares, a Marsh Tit and a flock of about 110 Linnets, the singing Blackcap and 4 Chiffchaffs.
Driving through Castle hill that afternoon I also saw another Red Kite going over.
On a walk after work this afternnoon I saw 6 Buzzards circling over the orchard plus a Kestrel and amazingly my third Red Kite of the year on the patch.
In the garden the Siskins are still coming to the feeders with the occasional Lesser Redpoll.

Siskin in the garden

Singing Linnet

The middle weekend of March was spent up in Norfolk visiting my younger brother and some of the north coast.
Saturday 12th I visited Cley.A fantastic reserve and whilst there wasn't anything rare about I watched the sea for a while and found a Black -Throated Diver amongst the many Red -Throats and had a single Eider.I also had my first Chiffchaff of the spring (still none on the patch).
I took the opportunity to go to Blakeney to see some Lapland Buntings and try to get some shots of them.

Lapland Buntings

Back to the patch and not a lot has changed but Fieldfares and Redwings remain in decent numbers. On 19th two Lesser-spotted Woodpeckers were displaying in the alderwood at the southern end and the feeder was still attracting several Tit species including the Marsh Tits.

The lake was quiet as usual with 6 Mandarins and a Cormorant being the highlite.

In the afternoon we had a walk and had a flock of about 130 Redpolls fly over us at Bassetts farm, definately the largest flock i've ever seen!

On 20th there was the welcome sight of a Reed Bunting singing in the ditch at the bottom of the lake and 2 Kingfishers were present with 2 Grey Wagtails on the stream.

At lunch time I picked up a large raptor going over the house which turned out to be my first Red Kite(68) of the year and later in the afternoon we were treated to 6 Buzzards circling over the village.

On the morning of the 21st I popped in to the lake on my way to work to find two Reed Buntings singing and on the way home a drake Teal was on the lake plus a Grey Heron.

On the loop round past the sheep pasture I found a cracking male White Wagtail(69) in amongst the sheep but unfortunately I could refind it when I returned with my camera.

STILL NO CHIFFCHAFF but I'm sure it will be any day now. 

As I left the house at 07:00 on Sunday 06/03/16 Siskins were on the feeders in the garden.
Walking down through Kirkins and 2 Bullfinches were in the brambles at the top.As Iwalked down the track some Redpolls flew over and a Green Woodpecker took off from the small orchard.Into the paddock and Redwings and Fieldfares were in abundance.
Onto the lake where there were 4 Great-crested Grebes,a Kingfisher, Mallard and Moorhen viewable from the dam end.
Next down the lane past the pumping station and Grey Wagtail was on the stream and a Pied Wagtail was in amongst the sheep.Siskins and Goldfinches were feeding in the poplars.
 I have put up a feeder at the southern end of the lake and was delighted to find at least 2 Marsh Tits coming in with Great,Blue and Coal Tits plus a couple of Nuthatches and a Water Rail scurried away from under it.

Marsh Tit on the feeder.

Around on the Shirrenden side and three Kestrels were dislaying over the paddock.

The stock pond held a Grey Heron but still no Little Owl was found.As I left, the local pair of Buzzards came out of the wood calling loudly.

I spent some time watching the garden feeders and counted 18 Siskins plus 3 Redpolls amongst the Goldfinches,House Sparrows,Chaffinches and pair of Greenfinches.

Lesser Redpoll in the garden

I was very pleased with the 50 species seen durng the day even though no new species were added to the year total. 

 The patch has been a bit in the doldrums for the last couple of weeks.Around the orchards both Fieldfare and Redwing remain in good numbers but the lake is still quiet. The highlite was a second pair of  Great-crested Grebes on the 19th which stayed for a week before the first pair bullied them into leaving.
The local pair of Buzzards have become a bit more noticable of late and on the 27th a pair of Sparrowhawks were displaying over the lake.
On the 25th a pair of Kestrels were on the dead tree in Shirrenden and on the same day three Grey Wagtails were on the stream and a Little Grebe was hiding under some lakeside branches.
It's been great to have the Siskins in the garden with a dozen there on Sunday 28th joined by a couple of Redpolls.

 Siskins in the garden.

Cracking male Redpoll in the garden

With spring just around the corner I'm hoping that things will pick up on the patch.