Eight members met at the rendezvous in sunny conditions that promised a fine day. Immediate sighting from the car park not repeated later included a Nuthatch and a Red Kite. First we crossed the park to the woodland by the river. There the chorus of birdsong that stayed with us throughout the morning began. Robins and dunnocks were evident; Wrens vied noisily for attention; Chiffchaffs though present seemed subdued in comparison to the predominant song of many melodious Blackcaps that continued for the entire morning. Deeper into the woods a couple of Garden Warblers could be heard but picking them out of the foliage proved challenging. The Silt Pool geld just Tufted Ducks, Moorhens and Coots but the latter had a brood of four chicks looking cute under their orange fuzz. To our surprise it proved possible to access the waterside hide with just a little paddling. Two Great Crested Grebes seemed to have the centre of the lake to themselves while a Common Tern was perched upon a post. On the far edge though a Common Sandpiper could be made out through scopes – and then two more located by their proximity to one of the few Lapwings present. Then to our delight another wader appeared and was quickly identified as a Greenshank. From there we proceeded to the Mound past the reedbeds entertained by burbling Reed Warblers and noisy Cetti’s with the odd scratch from a Whitethroat also noticeable.

At the Mound many more birds could be easily viewed but they were mainly of common species, gulls, corvids, Egyptian and Canada Geese and Starlings with just one Gadwall concealed in the assembly. The drumming of a Great Spotted Woodpecker could be heard and a male Stonechat perched close by. The absence of hirundines and raptors apart from a buzzard was noticeable. Then the prize bird was spotted, a drake Garganey that had arrived overnight emerging into the open. Finally the local team kindly put us on the distant location of a Little Ringed Plover. From there a quick visit to the feeder area yielded just two Collared Doves and views of Great Tits. The return walk was inevitably accompanied by the Blackcap chorus and the say list was tallied at a respectable 50.