Soar Valley update....Arctic Terns and Common Scoter

Common Scoter Watermead CP North (Water-ski Pit) taken by John Hague.

Although it felt cold in the morning with maybe something to do with the recent volcanic ash cloud? I noticed at Watermead CP South that more spring migrants had arrived over the last few days.
I noted that at least ten Blackcaps were singing around the southern section of the park, but the highlight here was three Arctic Terns seen briefly over the pits before flying north up the valley.
Moving on to Watermead CP North and Birstall section, sightings seen included a nice looking drake Common Scoter on the waterski pit, a large female Peregrine being mobbed by a couple of LBB Gulls and a newly arrived Sedge Warbler singing by the key lakes.
After getting a text from Andy Mackay about a Whitethroat at Cossington Meadows and a quick lunch break I checked out Cossington Meadows.
After about an hour on being on the reserve and not much to report except for the singing Reed Warbler on Moor Pool, it was back to Watermead CP.
At this point I got a phone call from John who let me know that another Whitethroat was singing in the Meadow Lane car park at Birstall. So you can guess were I went next!
Reaching the car park, it took a me a few minutes to locate the Whitethroat as it sang from a large blackthorn/hawthorn bush and trying to remember what this species sounded like.
So on the whole a good day out in the valley with more year ticks and the 120 mark getting closer by the day and cheers to John for supplying the photo of the Common Scoter!

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