Thoughts are steadily turning towards spring. The first 2 male Reed Bunting were back on territory and singing this morning in the Lower Piddle Valley. February may as well be the March! Chaotic scenes at Lytchett Bay as a large female Peregrine harassed everything for 20 minutes with no success. Two Marsh Harrier joined in on the action sending up 300+ Wigeon, 200+ Teal, 200 Black-tailed Godwit, Oystercatcher, Redshank and gulls all in a frenzy. Meanwhile the northern embayment to the east, Holes Bay, enjoyed a beautifully calm morning with 200+ Avocet present and regular Kingfisher activity. Although there were no sightings of the Common Sandpiper, a few Turnstone were feeding actively. The Brambling briefly paid a visit to the Lytchett Feeding Station. Ballad Down certainly felt like spring was pressing forward with Skylarks in song and a Raven collecting nesting material.

Water Rail (yesterday) – Lytchett Bay – Ian Ballam