Sunday service

Made my first visit to the patch since Tuesday this evening. Felt like a lifetime.

Pretty quiet in Freeman's Wood although the continued appearance of fledged long-tailed, blue and great tits both here and along the cycle track is encouraging - though where are all the willow warblers this year? Singing birds seem to be very thin on the ground
Whitethroat were in relative abundance, plus the odd lesserthroat was heard here and there.
At Freeman's Pools a pair of little ringed plover were feeding at the upper pool. An hour or so later presumably the same pair were on the island with at least 2 youngsters visible.
Still no young coot, mallard, little grebes or anything else waterbird-wise. Two adult grey herons and a recently fledged youngster were lurking on the pool edge.
A pair each of tufted duck and Canada goose were still in residence.
All the other pools and the Flood were bereft of noteworthy birds.
An oystercatcher was sat on a clutch in the maize fields and several lapwing appear to be doing the same.
A family party of five raven, presumably the local breeders, were in fields by Aldcliffe village.
The marsh was all pretty quiet bar a hunting kestrel.