10th April

Swallow: the first of the year headed west at 7.05am without hesitating as it headed over the lake.

Stock Dove: 31 birds were feeding in my garden.

Blackcap: the sound of males singing can be heard all around the park.

Willow Warbler: one was singing in area 33.

Chiffchaff: If the males that have been singing for the past few days remain, it would be the best year ever if they managed to attract a mate.

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Swallow on his way to his breeding grounds

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Female Great spotted Woodpecker sprucing herself up

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Part of the Walthamstow fishing fleet head SW looking for food

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Mandarin in the Wetland Pen, the female must be sitting on eggs

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In coming and out going Common Pochard

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Stock Dove over my garden

Comments

birdman_euston said…
11 Apr: Partly cloudy with ground frost and light W breeze at daybreak.

Reed Bunting 2 (1f at 06.55 in area 2; 1m calling at 07.15 in area 32).
The agitated female popped out of a shrub in the fenced-off area; the male showed well but is not yet in full adult plumage, lacking an extensive black bib. Assuming they're not already spoken for, these two need to find each other!

Willlow Warbler 3 (area 33 at 07.30, area 9 at 07.45 and area 20 at 08.45).

Chiffchaff 5 (areas 1, 14->17, 19, 31->32 and 41).

Shelduck 4 (the flighted pair were beside the pond in the Wetland Pen, area 32 at daybreak, then the male alone was feeding in area 36 at 07.00; the other pair with a winged duck were roosting on Heron Island, area 8 at 07.00).

Gadwall 1m off Heron Island, area 8 at 07.00.

The line of tulip trees along the W border of the English Gardens are leafing out. So too are some of the larger and all of the smaller oaks; grey squirrels are once again chewing off the leaf clusters, as they did with the horse-chestnuts two weeks ago but this time at the woody base, to munch the emerging flowers at leisure; Blue Tits and one of the Willow Warblers found them to their liking as well.