Trip reports

Hints of summer

Sunday, 20 April 2008

Paxton Gravel Pits- it doesn't sound terribly exciting but it was the first venue for our April trip and rewarded us with early summer birds. Another warm dry day made it all the more pleasant to hunt around for Nightingales ( several of them singing very loudly ) and Willow Warblers in the scrub woodland which surrounds the lakes. Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps aplenty, Bullfinches and Swallows along with all the usual common waterfowl. Barnacle Goose and Green woodpecker helped to swell the morning's list.

The afternoon saw us make the short trip down the A1 to The Lodge at Sandy, where we hoped for great things. Sadly it was one of those afternoons when not much was showing and Siskin, Brambling, Goldcrest and Sand Martin were the only notable birds. Nonetheless we had a gentle and enjoyable day and on the trip home the conversation reflected how much joy we had got from the song of the Nightingale.