Eighteen members came to Frensham Little Pond on a warm spring morning. The walk started well with a foraging Mistle Thrush by the car park. We were surrounded by bird song – Blackbird, Nuthatch, Chiffchaff, Wren, Robin and Blackcap. The lake was fairly quiet with two Great Crested Grebes, Tufted Ducks, Coot, a Grey Heron and a female Mallard with a single duckling. A Reed Warbler was heard. A Woodlark was singing high above us, eventually landing in view at the top of a fir tree. 

The heathland was also quiet apart from several busy pairs of  Linnets, a Stonchat and a displaying Skylark. A few people spotted a lone Swallow. Buzzard and Red Kite were both seen. As we returned to the lake there was a late burst of activity. A female Stonechat appeared, closely followed by a male Dartford Warbler which perched obligingly on a flowering gorse bush. A Cetti’s Warbler called. Somone saw a reddish bird fly and land on a distant fir tree. It was difficult to locate, but was identified as a male Crossbill and eventually everyone was able to get ‘scope views. A patch of reeds gave a brief glimpse of two more Reed Warblers. A Mute Swan and a Greylag goose brought the morning total to forty species.