Saturday 5th April

From Sea Walls I could see a dozen or more Redshank down river on the mud, they are in larger groups now, rather than single birds separated by expanses of mud. Over the end of the Gully a pair of Sparrowhawks were chasing each other, the tryst was split up as a Peregrine glided past, and on down river. At the Peregrine watch we could hear a Chiffchaff and a Wren, over Leigh Woods I saw three Geese, the Raven was sitting first on, then to the right of its nest. A Cormorant appeared to almost hover, high above Leigh Woods (surely not!), and a bright, red brown topped Kestrel passed us. There were Mallard down on the river, with Lesser Black Backed, Herring and Common Gulls. I didn't see any Black Headed Gulls, they seem to have left the Downland over the last couple of weeks. This was a very cold morning, and it became even colder as the sun went behind clouds. Along Saville Road the horse chesnut trees are greener each morning.