Overnight rain prompted a brief pre-work visit but with the wind still coming from a westerly direction nothing much transpired; a very vocal Blackcap and a more subdued Common Whitethroat, both in the northern scrub at the basin, were new in but Reed Warbler numbers had dropped to five singing birds throughout the site. Juvenile Starlings were very much in evidence, vocally at least, their begging calls a constant accompaniment throughout the visit. The only sign of movement was a single Collared Dove flying east at the ecology park, it's been a good year for this species but I've yet to hear a singing bird on the patch. Other notables were four Shelduck, three Sand Martins and one or two Little Ringed Plovers. The above Grey Heron photo illustrates perfectly how silted-up the basin has become, the bird is ankle deep in water that less than a decade ago hosted regular wintering Goldeneye and the occasional Scaup.
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