An arrival at the Reception area on a Spring morning is a delightful experience at Tophill Low. The car park trees have a good variety of singing birds and almost straightaway, the following species were established - Robin, Goldcrest, Dunnock, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Great and Coal Tit, Blackbird, Pheasant and the first Chiffchaffs of Spring. One of nine Chiffchaffs observed singing around the reserve. The only other warblers noted were two singing Cetti's Warblers at opposite ends of the reserve. Willow Warblers will probably be around in another week or so. Wildfowl on the large 'D' reservoir were limited to Tufted Duck, Goldeneye, Wigeon, a smaller number of Pochard and two Gadwall. A Scaup (not the finest of plumages) stayed out in the middle of the reservoir for most of the morning, occasionally joining the Tufted Ducks. A smart male Goldeneye. I was pleased to see my first Sand Martins of the year, as six were flying over the North end of the reservoir. A walk through 'D' woods revealed more calling birds - Treecreeper, Wren, Chaffinch, Long-tailed Tit, Goldfinch, Siskin and at least 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers hammering away at the trees. I was led along part of the pathway by this colourful male Pheasant! The North Marsh offered little this morning until 11-30 when the Great White Egret flew down river. I saw it again half an hour later, flying the full length of 'D' reservoir as it returned to the Hempholme area. This egret has been frequenting the area for several days and Tophill was where I saw my first Great White some years ago Back in the Wood, two Tawny Owls were calling and as I searched some trees, Goldcrests were showing in the conifers. An interesting morning, the 1w Glaucous Gull was absent unfortunately but I was rewarded with a brief view of an Ottter.
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