Saturday I did manage to see 1 Linnet at the NW edge of DP, by standing on the grass verge by Sandford and Mohawk, 1 flying into the bramble after just 10 minutes. Brian had a Greenshank which as most do, flew off at 07:40.
2 Swift over BSL and another brief and distant Kestrel in front of the tall buildings of Winnersh Triangle, but with more or less constant rain on Saturday, it wasn't very easy to do much. A few brave ones of us sat in Bittern Hide waiting it out, but nothing showed up.
Sunday 04:15 and we, meaning myself, 9 others and Meridian News, were out for the FOLL dawn chorus and it was raining for about half of it, no owls, few warblers to start with, the nearby calls of Oystercatcher told us it was dismayed to have had it's nest flooded out....3rd time in 3 years.
Our walk was predetermined by flooding and around BSL West side was the only option, so naturally we opted for Nightingales and after seeing one with average views, we took a stroll around the viewpoint, allowing me to glimpse the Black Tern Brian had found 06:35 opposite the sailing club. It was a very brief glimpse, but with Nightingale now showing very, very well, saving the scheduled morning walk completely, so the Tern had to wait. It didn't and left 07:15 before we made it round the bay.
Several Garden Warblers sang, but poor views for just a couple of us and a Cuckoo put in a brief view after most had just left. Either way, most seemed very pleased with the fine views and song of Nightingale and we will repeat this next year, of course hoping it isn't flooded and raining.
The bigger picture consequences of the flooding are that we have lost all the lake edge and island nesting species....again. So Mute Swan, Greylag, Canada, Moorhen, Coot, Great Crested Grebe, Gadwall, Oystercatcher, Black-headed Gull, Tufted Duck and probably upset, or even ruined it for a few Reed and Cetti's Warblers too.
Meridian are apparently doing the feature on the dawn chorus walk this Friday, as part of the 6 O'Clock news.
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