Spring has sprung!

Another dry and mild day marks the official first day of spring, and it got off to an exciting start this lunchtime at Cromwell Bottom. 2 Herons passed over with nest building material and an attack on the car park feeders by a Sparrowhawk got the afternoon off to a good start!

                                                                 Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)

I was heading for the feeding station to try get Redpoll on my yearlist after my last unsuccessful attempt. On the way I noted 2 Canada Geese on the riverbank. It didnt look good but there were 8 Blue Tits, 7 Great Tits, 3 Bullfinch (2 males 1 female), Chaffinch, 2 Robin, & 2 Blackbirds. After a good 20 minutes a single and very obliging redpoll showed at last! 

                                                        Lesser Redpoll (Carduelis cabaret)

                                                               Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus)

                                                                Robin (Erithacus rubecula)

                                                             Bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula)

                                                             Blackbird (Turdus merula)

                                                            Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)   

 I carried on around Tag Loop, picking up a singing Song Thrush and a few long tailed tits, 2 canada geese flying past the reserve and 6 carrion crow. Returning to the river a single domestic goose was by the weir. Another cracking hour at this ever changing reserve, I can see loads of changes and hard work paying off, well done to all the volunteers. 

                                                          Domestic Goose (Snow Goose!)