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An interesting selection of waders on view from west mead and winpenny hides this morning - at least 14 ruff (a couple with lovely dark brown necks/breasts), 2 ringed plover, 2 little ringed plover, 5 redshank, 1 black-tailed godwit and about 8 dunlin. The little ringed plovers (see below, thanks Graham...

Both ringed and little ringed plovers were seen on the reserve today - at least two of each present on the south brooks at about 13.00. The LRPs were suitable elusive, but hopefully they will be more visible over the coming days. And I hope they won't mind the rain/sleet/snow mix that was on offer...

Finally, a warm, still, cloudless morning to enjoy on our monthly waterfowl count. Lots of lying water remains on some of the brooks providing good feeding for numerous herons and egrets. Highlights were at least 7 garganey (this constitutes a large flock!) on one of pools on the south brooks amongst...

My first nightingale of the year was singing from the thick scrub next to the hanger viewpoint this morning. Always the star of the spring migrant show, I'm sure we'll be hearing plenty more from this one over the next few weeks. Blackcaps, willow warblers and chiffcaffs were also singing from...

First significant passage/appearance of sand martins and swallows occured over the weekend - the cloudy weather of saturday influenced things and small groups over the north brooks all day. A few house martins were also seen. Blackcaps are now singing from various points around the site, with little...

Several singing crossbills are still around the heath - including at least 2 males doing very good woodlark impersonations. Also on the heath, the first green tiger beetle of the spring was seen on Saturday. Little ringed plover still present, though at times elusive (west mead is best place). Blackcap...

Nice mix of spring and winter today. First little ringed plover of the year arrived - was seen from West Mead by Anna. Grass snakes and adders have been seen around the site in various places today (including a mating ball of 4 or 5 individuals in the top of the hedge along the green lane!), and brimstone...

Single Temminck's stint still present on the north brooks this morning, along with a little stint, at least 6 ruff, 4 green sandpipers, 4 little ringed plovers, 2 ringed plovers and common sandpiper. Was interesting to see the two species of stint close together - the little bustling about constantly...

At least one juvenile marsh harrier was hunting across the south brooks yesterday morning - this is typical August bird for us here and this one was right on cue. If previous years are anything to go by, it will stay around for some weeks. A young cuckoo was also present yesterday, eating cinnabar caterpillars...

A wood sandpiper was on the north brooks yesterday evening (per Gordon Beck) - also present several green and common sandpipers, 3 greenshank, redshank and 2 little ringed plover. Barn owl was hunting from about 20.00 and 3 common terns dropped in briefly (per David Andrews).

Still a selection of passage waders on the north brooks - greenshank, green sandpiper, common sandpiper and little ringed plover present this morning. Several lesser whitethroat, whitethroat, willow warblers and chiffchaffs in the scrub around the trail. Yesterday an adult male and juvenile female...

The last week has seen a range of passage waders coming through - green sandpipers and little ringed plovers inevitably the most common (at least 6 of each on any given day), plus greenshanks (2), black-tailed godwits (2), dunlin and common sandpiper (2 or 3 each). Hobby, peregrine, sparrowhawk and buzzard...

After the much needed rain of yesterday and last night (we had 32mm - probably more than fell in March, April and May put together!) a few passage birds have appeared. 1 dunlin, 1 green sandpiper and a common tern were present on the north brooks, together with the usual mallard, teal, wigeon, redshank...

After a poor spring here for woodlarks, one was singing on the heath this morning, along with a yellowhammer. Other birds around the heath included lots of young blue tits, juv great spotted woodpeckers and juv chaffinches. Spotted flycatcher still to be found nr Jupp's view. On the brooks, a few...

Last week's wryneck and spoonbills were topped by an all too brief gull-billed tern that was seen by a couple of birders on sunday morning for a few minutes before it headed north. This morning saw the run of good birds continuing as a Temminck's stint was on the pool in front of west mead hide...

After a few days of bright but chilly weather recently, today there was a definite sign of spring - a little ringed plover on the north brooks. These birds usually arrive in March here and are often the first spring migrants to be seen. A grass snake was seen yesterday, and again, mid-March is right...