At just after dawn today, the 'Last of the Summer Wine' crew met for the first time in months at Strumpshaw Fen. To our delight, all of the trails (but not the hides!) are now open and the riverside walk to Tower Hide and Lackford Run turned up some very welcome new arrivals. Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps were everywhere: perhaps more surprising were the Redpolls and Bramblings!
My first Kingfishers of the year - a group of three - squabbled over possible nest sites, while other year ticks came in the form of Little Grebes and Reed Buntings. The drive home added Fieldfares and lots of Buzzards: even more of these featured in the quick trip LInda and I made to the cash and carry - we saw groups of five and six individuals.