Bank Island

 A very pleasant spring morning. Just after 10am when I arrived.

Not a lot to be seen from the first hide, but I will return as there is a sand martin bank to the left of the hide, which could prove useful as time goes by.

More water from the second hide and more birds. Just like North Duffield Carrs the water level is slowly going down and the vegetation is growing which provides cover for the birds. Mute swan, little egret

were busy feeding and would often be out of sight. I heard a rasping noise from left of the hide and saw this red legged partridge.

I could hear two buzzards calling and then they and a marsh harrier came into view. The buzzards were attacked by crows and landed in some mature trees while the marsh harrier slowly hunted over the water. However the lapwings did not like it and they kept dive bombing it and it eventually flew away.

Lots of teal, a few shoveler, 5 shelduck and a pair of garganey. Blackcap, whitethroat and willow warbler calling from the hedgerow but no sign of any hirundine.