Spring at Maple Lodge

0800hrs walked to Maple Lodge a sunny morning after a frosty start,on arrival a Chiff chaff was

singing as I waked to the Rotunda hide,nearby some tree planting had occured over the week end.

Made my way to the Teal Hide where seven Common Snipe were present.  A Kingfisher showed

well but fleetingly and caught a fish.Next a Fox in the distant phragmites caught my attention as it

hurdled through the undergrowth.Bird song was everywhere trilling wrens ,great spotted woodpeckers

drumming,at the Paddock a Wren was building a nest.A Peacock butterfly a first for Spring was in the

dried up sluice.Finally in the Paddock another Chiffchaff and a Ring necked parakeet near it nest

hole,formerly a woodpeckers hole.On the way home a Red Kite sailed overhead.