A somewhat belated report of the Area walk by Alan (+ Stella), Angela T, new member Sam H, myself + Ezio. Only just had time to put all the data into BirdTrack – where does the time go?

The first part of the walk ticked off the expected species, and when we reached the fields we soon heard Reed Warbler, Reed Bunting, Whitethroat, while Nuthatch and Stock Dove called from the trees by the railway line.  Blackcaps were regular, and just a single Lesser Whitethroat heard near the wooden gate.  Sam spotted a Kestrel hovering, a pair of Lapwings were mobbing a crow, and Little Egrets were seen in the fields and also on nests at the heronry where there were also well-grown young herons. A Red Kite went over, and as we came back to the railway line about 15 Swifts were overhead, screaming. A Swallow and 8 House Martins were seen later.  The only Goldcrest noted was in a regular spot near Stretham Manor. A very large flock of corvids (c420), probably mainly Rooks were feeding on a recently cut field.

What was surprising was the number of Sedge Warblers along the river.  Normally only the odd one, heavily outnumbered by Reeds.  But we heard 7 Reeds to 4 Sedges.  Someone we met said he’d heard 3 Cuckoos on his route up from the south, but we didn’t hear one until we got to New Inn.  A Mute Swan appeared to be on a nest on the overflow pit, but when I visited again the following day there was no sign of it, though one was sitting on a nest a bit further north, right by the river!  It took until the Rye Farm track to add Buzzard to the list – one noted by Angela & Sam.  The stinky ponds only held a pair of Mallards.

Flower-wise, there was a lot of Crosswort in the fields and along the railway line. In the fields was some Ladies Smock, and the pond by the metal gate had a small amount of Water Violet which we dismissed as more Ladies Smock at the time!

Total of 53 bird species – thanks as always for the extra eyes & ears!