Tues 29th Mar 22

As there was a road closure on the B1032 between Gt. Holland and Holland-on-Sea I decided to spend the morning at the farm. Walking through the farm yard a Gt. Spotted Woodpecker was drumming from the wood and Finches and House Sparrows were chattering along the hedgerow, a Song Thrush and several Blackbirds were in the first paddocks and the usual Moorhens and Mallard were on the pond. The paddocks behind the pond held the bird I was hoping for a cracking Wheatear (FFY) plus 2 Mistle Thrush, a Singing Corn Bunting, Skylark and a Flock of c50 Linnet were still using the set-aside.

A message from Pete Davis that a Water Pipit was on the scrape was difficult to ignore but when the next message said 2 drake Garganey I was on my way to the hide.

Luckily both were still about when I arrived, the Water Pipit on show on Leon's Marsh, but the Garganey were playing hard to get until Pete headed for home and found that they were viewable from the wind pump area.

Simon & Pat Cox picked up both the Garganey and the Water Pipit later in the morning and when leaving had the first Blackcap of the year in the bushes between the wind pump and the sluice.  

Reports from today:

Pete Davis

12:39 Also this morning good candidate for ‘rubicola’ Common Stonechat.

Photo Pete Davis©

Max Martin

16:45 Both drake Garganey still on scrape roosting on front of Island.