End of March to Mid April.

A very windy but dry start to spring, winter migrants’ staying put, but in smaller numbers, Golden Plover end of March still pushing 2,000 and beginning of April down to a few hundred, Wigeon about the same, also end of March very good numbers of Shoveler 400 +, Shelduck around the 200 mark and Brent Goose 400 + .

Up to mid April a steady 100 Black-tailed Godwit looking very smart and comfortable along with a few Ruff, 400 Avocet ,100 Oystercatcher with many pairs amongst them. In the windy conditions very hard to gauge the number of Redshank and Lapwing but much activity, lots of movement coming from the sea wall especially Mediterranean Gull at times upward of 50 +, Curlew until early April around the two hundred mark.

Reed Buntings, Meadow Pipits, Snipe very showy, Skylarks about, but perhaps down in numbers because of a long and good winter of Merlin presence. Lovely sight of Water Voles along with Grass Snakes and Marsh Frogs.

Along the footpaths , ditches and drills, Coots, Moorhen, Mallard , Mute Swan, Little and Great Crested Grebe, either sitting or nest building. Around the farm building lots of House Sparrow and a steady number of Goldfinches.

Mid April, Yellow Wagtail, Common Tern, a few Sedge Warbler, Whimbrel and Lapwing chicks, with Redshanks still to hatch which looks like being more than very good.

Can you spot all four lapwing chicks in the last photo?