Dawn Chorus day 2018: Noddle Hill

As in the last few years, I headed for Noddle Hill early in the morning with friend Helen. We got there about 4:45. There was a moon and clear sky and it was very bright already. The chorus is well under way: Blackbird, Robin, Wren, Woodpigeon, Reed Warbler, Pheasant, Song Thrush just from the car park. We walk alongside the lake and head for the scrub. The warblers come in en force: Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, in the woods, Lesser Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat in the scrub.
There are several families of Greylag with young goslings of various sizes, including a family with three adults. A set of ducklings too.
 In the scrub, we stop to listen to a barking roe deer. After a few minutes a magnificent buck walks near the dairy field.
Helen sees a rabbit running and then we see a Mink behind, who stops in its tracks to check us out. For a few seconds we have a great view of it, until it turns away.
 The scrub has plenty of Linnet (top shot) and Reed Bunting, also singing now. No sign of Grasshopper warblers though. We walk around the reserve a couple of times and come across at five roe deer and another rabbit.
 It was nice to be out early on such a mild morning. Noddle Hill is much wetter than usual and some of the paths are not passable without wellies. The fields around are flooded, but no signs of Lapwings. There seem to have been some fires, the brambles are coming out stronger and some of the deer were actually browsing the new growth. Overall 37 species for the morning.

Dawn with clear sky.

Light mist on a Greylag creche.

Doe Roe deer.

Flooded field.

Young deer browsing on a burnt patch which is sprouting.

Reed Bunting.

Roe deer and Pheasant.

Whitethroat.

Bullfinch.

Trio of greylag with goslings.

Canada and eggs. 

Female linnet.

Robin.

Song thrush.

Sedge warbler.