Saturday 9th May 2015

Weather: Overcast and cool with gusting westerly winds.

The strong wind made birding difficult.  A solitary Wheatear was feeding in "Hoopoe Hollow" but keeping close to the embankment, presumably for protection from the wind.  Another 5 Wheatear were in the horse paddocks along the path between the two (or now one !) kissing gates - presumably the same birds as yesterday that didn't move on due to the heavy rain.  Plenty of  standing water in the fields - hopefully a magnet for wagtails but none were found in the main paddocks.   Along the nature trail 3 different Reed Warblers sang with a single Sedge east of the duck pond.   A few Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler and Whitethroat along the various hedges but a good number of Blackcap singing along Lingham Lane and in the bushes east of the duck pond.   In the flooded field behind Greenacres stables 3 Pied and 1 Yellow Wagtail showed well although distantly.  Better birding than anticipated !

JB