#indoorstoomuch

Not one for early mornings I was out side the Valley gates at 5.00am, still pitch black, could have had another half our in bed......   I ventured in at about 5.20am with a hope of an owl silently gliding across the marsh; my expectation dashed by a thick layer of mist that had settled over the flood and scrape so much so that in the dim light i could see barely into it. I edged my way along to the main viewing area where you could hear more than see; two Cettis Warbler battled it out with song, Mallard making them selves known along with Coot and Moorhen. Two Water Rail from different end of the scrapes "sharmed" as a Green Woodpecker "yaffled" behind me; and it was cold, hands firmly in pockets so it was just as well i couldn't see.   Dave Mo tweeted 5.20 am "Hobby Barking Bay" at least i wasn't the only one up and as i got to the iron bridge heading towards the Bottom Paddock i heard my first " COME HERE !" which broke the...

The porch has pulled in a few moths of late:  Sqaure Spot Rustic Angle Shades  Yellow Shell   Light Emerald   Marbled Beauty   Orange Swift Brimstome 

Oh well yet another Spotted Flycatcher comes and goes at the Valley without yours truly being any where near the area.........   As such i was at the Lower Paddock this morning for about 7ish in the hope that latest of the visitors had decided to hang about for a bit.   The paddock was busy this morning; a lot busier than normal, in fact i havnt seen it so busy since it was covered in Redwing and Fieldfare late last year after the berries. From the gate the first bird was a Lesser Whitethroat along the edging to the back lake, shortly followed by another however this time it was in the bushes running up the side of the path.   As i edged my way along the fencing it was evident that most of the Whitethroat,  some 20 odd in total and now 6 Lesser Whitethroat were fresh faced youngsters.   Again fresh faced and looking good were the Chiffchaffs who were silently working the shrubs.   At the far end looking into the farm fields the c...