Nearly swan down!

Some heavy early morning showers, after that dry with some sunny spells. A light breeze initially from SE drifted to the west.

Middleton Nature Reserve (JP, MD)

Mute Swan 2 adult plus 8 immature are making a mud bath of the feeding area

At one point there were only 7 immature, one must have crash landed onto 
Middleton Rd, bringing traffic to a standstill, fortunately this included Janet who
managed to "shoo" it back to the main pond

Tufted Duck 1 - just the main pond bird today.

The male Tufted seems to be permanently preening

Gadwall 4 - 2 each on main and "no swimming" pond. These were the only wildfowl on the "no swimming" pond. The water level had reached 2m above normal, but it had dropped slightly today. The pump must have kicked in and the level will now quickly return to normal. Should make for some interesting feeding opportunities both on and around the pond in the next few days.

Coot 6

Moorhen 4

Coal Tit - the visitor maintained feeders are still attracting plenty of birds

South shore (JP, MD)

Rock Pipit on Red Nab

Black-Headed Gulls resting on No.2 outflow superstructure. It's always a
wonder why more birds do not rest here, they only do when it is particularly calm.

I couldn't get out till lunchtime (MD). So I just did a quick check of the saltmarsh. It was shortly after high water, and this was the highest tide of this set of spring tides, but the lack of waves still prevented it covering more then two thirds of the saltmarsh.

Common Snipe 3 - this clip of one foraging plus one lurking in the background is actually from yesterday.

Wigeon 105

Turnstone 5 - including the three regulars on the shingle shore

Reed Bunting 2

Reed Bunting with a distinctive white festher