As it says in the title I decided to look at the lower patch of my local area, it is an area that I should pay more attention to as there are some different species that the upper part does not get, although looking over the flood meadows that the area consists of it looked more like Febuary rather than May. The flood waters are still high, so the hoped for Sedge Warblers were not found and the same for Lesser Whitethroat and our best summer guest Spotted Flycatchers likewise , although the latter has not yet arrived yet I think.
So as for the birds that I managed to see from a fairly restricted area , here goes. The first patch record of a flock of 7 TUFTED DUCK on the waters was nice. In the hedgerow by the flood were WHITETHROAT, CHIFFCHAFF, 3 BLACKCAP. 3 GREATER SPOTTED WOODPECKERS flew over. There was a good number of SWALLOWS feeding over the floods and fields with 40 plus present and it is pleasing to report the first decent count of 20 plus HOUSE MARTINS ,there was a single SWIFT also. A calling CUCKOO is always nice. A single PIED WAGTAIL perched on a floating log .I must try to bring you more from the lower part of the patch as when it dries out it will be very productive.
