07:10-11:40 – sunny with a ligh NW breeze. The numbers of Shoveler on the east flood remains high with 77 counted today. Other ducks included three Wigeon that circled over the flood, a pair of Pintail which dropped in mid-morning whilst five Pochard were on the west main dyke. An under-rehearsed Blackcap was singing opposite the cottages and three Sedge Warblers were singing in the reedbeds around the flood. A walk to Uplees produced a Wheatear in the fields behind the copse and a Willow Warbler singing in the copse. Butterflies noted were several Peacocks and a Green-veined White. A Marsh Frog was calling near the pull-in.

New birds are arriving regularly now and have included a Whimbrel and a Swallow on March 27^th (Terry Ryan), a Little Gull on 28^th (John Bartlett), a Wheatear on 31^st (Dave Perrin), a Common Tern on April 1^st (Julian Russell) and a Green Sandpiper on 2^nd (Sue Carter).  The total now stands at 111 species. Geoff Burton