Dawn Chorus

Overcast after heavy overnight rain, 8°, and no wind.

04:00 – 05:45 (sunrise was 05:47) more of a pre-dawn chorus.

The chorus got off to a sluggish start along the river.

Both groups started with Robin as was expected and we logged the following.

For the record, the village group saw/heard 29 species as follows:-

Robin (4.15); Skylark (4.30); Tawny Owl (4.40); Blackbird; Red-legged Partridge; Reed Bunting; Wood Pigeon; Great Tit; Wren; Swallow;

Magpie; Pheasant; Chaffinch; Green Woodpecker; Mistle Thrush; Mallard; Kestrel; Goldcrest; Collared Dove; Dunnock; Rook; Blackcap;
Heron; Carrion Crow; House Sparrow; Blue Tit; Chiffchaff; Goldfinch; Song Thrush.

On arriving home, was surprised to hear a Lesser Whitethroat by our meadow. Per Tony Rayner.

The river group saw/heard 32 species:

Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Mallard, Pheasant, Great Crested Grebe, Red Kite, Water Rail, Moorhen, Coot, Wood Pigeon, Skylark, Dunnock, Robin, Song Thrush, Blackbird, Blackcap, Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler, Grasshopper Warbler, Reed Warbler, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Wren, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Reed Bunting.

When we arrived back home it looked as though a feather pillow had exploded in the garden and found a carcass of a Wood Pigeon about 5 metres away. I am assuming a Sparrowhawk had paid the garden a visit.

Treecreeper in the garden again early evening.

The 15 ducklings that hatched on the brook around a week ago are now down to 9, per RB!