Coombe Hill

Coombe Hill (19 March 2011, contributed by Mike Smart and Les Brown)

Coombe Hill was still quiet, but there was a sense of spring being at hand: still 9 Shelducks, 5 Wigeon, 110 Teal 20 Mallard, 2 Pintail, 10 Shoveler. Among probable breeding waders, the pair of Oystercatchers still present, being pursued by 13 Carrion Crows that tried to steal food from them; at least 12 Lapwings displaying (last year they didn’t arrive until late April); 6 Curlews, looking like local territorial birds; a sole Redshank. Two Meadow Pipits (the first for ages) and two Pied Wagtials, likely to be migrants. Three drumming Great Spotted Woodpeckers on a bright frosty morning, and a Treecreeper singing. Four singing Chiffchaffs, and four Reed Buntings, all singing.

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