Testwood Lakes Dawn Chorus

The weather was mostly clear. Highlights were Little Ringed Plover, Sedge Warbler and Sand Martins.
11 of us met at the gates to Testwood Lakes and after we worked out that they were actually unlocked we went in! As we walked around the wooded area we heard many birds singing. There were several Robin, Chaffinch, Wren and Chiffchaff and a far off Collared Dove. A Blackcap sang, but didn’t show itself. Greenfinches and Starling were also seen and heard near the beginning of the walk. From the more scrubby hedgerow areas we heard more warblers – Whitethroat, Willow Warbler and Sedge Warbler and we got good views of some of these.
As we approached the bird hide there were many Swifts and Sand Martins in the air. From the hide we saw that the Sand Martins were nesting in the man-made sand bank constructed by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust a year ago. We also saw Little Ringed Plover on the shore of the main lake. This is quite a scarce bird and it is great to know that they regularly breed here. There were also Shelducks, Oystercatcher, Coot, Tufted Duck and a few Black-headed Gulls on and around the lakes.
Leaving the hide a young Fox was seen playing on the hillside behind the hide. For the next 5 minutes we watched up to 4 of them romping round together oblivious to our presence. On the way back additional birds that we heard singing were Reed Bunting, Dunnock and Mistle Thrush.
Simon Curson