Thursday May 3

Whisper it quietly, but I think Spring has finally arrived. I walked around Arrow Valley Lake in glorious sunshine.

Although the lake itself contained only the usual residents, I noticed two recently fledged Grey Herons below one of the nests, the main interest was provided by passerines in the surrounding bushes.

I counted a minimum of 10 Blackcaps, many vigorously defending recently acquired territories, and at least five Chiffchaffs making up the bulk of the warblers present. There were also some new arrivals. Three Reed Warblers sang from patches of reedbed. As always they were hard to see and at times it appeared the reedbed itself was responsible for the song. But with patience it was possible to get a view of sorts.

Reed Warbler

The highlight though was another LBJ (little brown job), this time singing from the hawthorn on the west side of the lake. And for once it showed well. A singing Garden Warbler.

Garden Warbler

Blackcap

Blackcap and Garden Warbler have rather similar songs. The former is the more mellifluent and shorter phrased, ending with a glorious crescendo, the latter slightly more guttural with less variation of pitch. The problem comes when a Blackcap chooses to chunter along under its breathe, leaving the would-be observer to finally give up on it. Or so I find!

It was not just migrants which entertained. Just about everything seemed to be nest-building or carrying food. The breeding season is well under way.

Mistle Thrush collecting worms

Coal Tit collecting moss

Greenfinch singing overhead

The warm weather was bringing out the insects too. Alderflies and St Mark's Flies were plentiful, and at least two Orange Tips fluttered by.

I have to say, it was a wrench to leave.