Netherfield Lagoons, 8th May

Rode down to Netherfield Lagoons last night to see what was about. I've just got a new 70-300mm camera lens so was hoping to test it out but I didn't really get an opportunity to use it. I was going in hope of getting in a few waders and maybe something a bit special, before the rain that was forecast kicked in later on.

Cycling downriver there were loads of warblers, mostly Whitethroats, with a few Garden Warblers thrown in for good measure and a flock of around 50 Swifts were seen overhead, making it feel very summery even if the weather was a bit crap.

Down at the lagoons themselves, there were many Swallows flying around their favourite nesting site under the train bridge over the river. Nearby a Sedge warbler was singing from within some bushes but wouldn't show itself.

Out on the deep pit were around 14 Common Tern using the nesting platforms with others overhead, but the wind meant not much else was noted around here. Down near the gravel pits amongst the scrub were loads of warblers, again mostly Whitethroats but with many Sedgies and even a couple of Lesser Whitethroat. 

I headed to the viewpoint overlooking the wader scrapes and met another birder with his son and his dog, who eventually pointed out a Ringed Plover amongst 4 or so Little Ringed Plovers. I wouldn't have been able to point it out as it was quite hard to pick up its features while it was surrounded by gravel but I got a good view of it through his scope. Little else was about on the scrapes but while we stood there a Grasshopper Warbler started reeling from the scrub on the slopes down to the gravel pits, my first of the year, although it couldn't be located.

The weather soon started to close in so I decided to make my way back, but not before adding Willow and Reed Warbler to the list, making 9 out 10 possible warbler species in just over an hour. The cetti's decided to keep quiet.