Testwood Lakes - 21st April

The weather was cloudy and cool. Highlights were Little Ringed Plover, White Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Yellow Wagtail and Common Sandpiper.

It was cool and cloudy, but at least the rain had stopped. We walked towards the hide, stopping and listening to Robin, Blackbird, Wren, Great Tit and Chiffchaff singing in the wooded areas. At one stop Del found a Treecreeper and we saw Moschatel and Cuckooflower as well as the Bluebells starting to bloom. A Sparrowhawk flew over before we reached the first hide. From the first hide the Sand Martin were much in evidence flying over the lake and to and from their nest burrows. A group of Swallow were on a fence between the lakes. On the water were a few Black-headed Gull, Tufted Ducks, Mute Swan, Canada Goose, a single Shelduck and some Coot. A few Moorhen were around the edge and looking more closely we found a White Wagtail, Redshank, Oystercatcher, Lapwing and 5 Little Ringed Plover. Derek then found a Common Sandpiper and Lyz saw a Yellow Wagtail briefly before it flew off. A pair of Grey Wagtail appeared and 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull joined a group of Cormorant on the edge of one of the lakes.
We walkled over to the second hide seeing a Fox run across the field on the way. We saw much the same from the second hide, but there were a few more Tufted Duck and a Dunnock was singing outside the hide. We walked round to the screens and got more views of the Little Ringed Plover while 2 Whitethroat sang to each other. Finally we saw a pair of Great-crested Grebe on the lake outside the centre.
Simon Curson