Eight members met in initially unpromising weather with a chill in the air and some light drizzle. We were soon spotting mixed flocks of tits in the car park including blue, great, long-tailed and coal tits while a nuthatch was heard. By the cafe and Warden’s cottage there was much bird activity allowing the addition of great spotted woodpecker, chaffinch, stock dove and treecreeper to the list. We also spent some time trying to get a clear sighting of a possible spotted flycatcher but without luck. The reed beds around the pond were quiet, but out on the water common terns were fishing in the company of a pair of great crested grebes with an almost fully grown youngster. A brief moment of excitement came as a kingfisher flew low over the water while all around chiffchaffs were singing and at one point a lesser black-backed gull flew over. On the heathland areas were the first of a few stonechats. We were also soon enjoying the antics of a family group of six Dartford warblers as they flew in and out of the heather and gorse; in all we saw ten, an impressive number. Other sighting included linnet, goldfinch and whitethroat. Back at the pond we had extended views of a reed warbler which at one point was uncharacteristically sitting in the open in a pine. A group of six swallows flew over supplementing the occasional swifts on the wing in small numbers. By the end we had a list of 33 and the realisation that the conclusion of the walk was much warmer than the start.