Stocks reservoir

A lovely spring day today at stocks reservoir. I stopped at champion moor about 8.30 and it was alive with the sounds of spring. Curlews bubbling in display flight, skylarks in full song above them. Snipe drumming and lapwing dive-bombing each other. Also saw a red legged partridge on a wall at Black moss farm but no little owls at Shays barn.

Loads of frogs croaking in the spawn-filled pools by the path up to the new hide. The water level was at a nice level for waders but nothing special was to be found.

Teal 20
Mallard 5
Goldeneye 4 f, 1m
RB Merganser 1pr
GC Grebe 1
Wigeon 1m
Moorhen 3
Coot 1
Canada goose 21
Greylag goose 16
Barnacle goose 3
Cormorant 34
GBB gull 2
LBB gull 2
Lapwing 20
Redshank 4
Oystercatcher 6
Grey heron 2

At 10.20am two fishermen walked clumsily up the opposite shore and scared off all the birdlife! I'm having a great time with fishermen this month eh?

Also at stocks today - 2 stoats. 1 in front of the new hide in full summer "plummage", a second on the road at the church half ermine/half brown.

This evening - first pipistrelle bat seen hunting in the back garden.