Mon 25th March 19

On my way into the site this morning 3 Buzzards were high over the marsh west of the chippings lay-by and a Cetti's Warbler was calling along the brook near the hump backed bridge, the bushes over the road were quiet.

Heading for the hide I met up with Ted Sewell and we spent a few minutes watching a single Adder on the mounds, a female Stonechat was in the same area.

Shortly after arriving at the hide a Ruff* was noticed with 3 Redshank at the back of the scrape, this being the first this year we were happy to watch it for a while but when it passed a group of Pied Wagtails on the bank one was not a Wagtail but a Water Pipit*, we moved our attention to the mud at the back and found a total of 5 Water Pipits. Within minutes everything was flushed from the scrape by a Sparrowhawk which landed on the back edge only 10 m from where the Pipits had been. The Wagtails soon returned but it was a good 30 mins before the Pipits were relocated back in the same area and at least 3 were still showing late afternoon.

From the hide :- Ducks all much the same as of late, 15 Avocet, 12 BlkWit's, 10 Lapwing, 4 Redshank, 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Ruff, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Buzzard, 1 Reed Bunting, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 5 Water Pipits.