A surprise at the Wetland site

30th May 15             morning               mid section

mostly sunny, 9-13°c,  1013mb,  W 9mph,

I arrived at the old bridge on Meadow View and looked down stream to note 2 ad female mallard with a group of young juveniles, I counted 9 juv then 10 then 11 and then the creche split up, most of them disappearing into the vegetation and out of sight, leaving 1 female with 1 chick which swam towards me. Confused by my wowful count I set off to find  and count the larger group ( if its 9 its probably the Wetland family) but some how they had completely disappeared ( must have climbed up the bank and snuggled down in the thick undergrowth)?
A family party of blackcap found at the Hanging Grds ( my name for the area of mostly spreading Blackthor n south of  the old farm railway crossing) is my first this year. The garden warbler seems to be still in attendance at the top of Barleyfield, singing for Ian but not for me.( I spent 30 minutes today and 20 minutes on thursday but with no sign)
Completely out of the blue another mallard brood appeared at the Wetland site. No sign a female here since the earlier family left on tuesday, indeed I have only had 1 female here all spring.

Mallard 3 broods f+1 chk & f+ 9or10 chk N of Meadow View,  f+ 3 chk Wetlands, Sparrowhawk probable very distant to the west of Barleyfield Buzzard 2 1 over Barleyfield,  1 to the distant north, Moorhen 3 broods Staffs & Wocs Swift 10+ Barleyfield Great Spotted Woodpecker 1♀ Barleyfield Annex Grey Wagtail 1 Prefab weir briefly,disappeared into weir but couldn't be relocated, Wren 11 singing mid section Dunnock 4 singing mid section Robin 7 singing mid section Blackbird 7 singing mid section Song Thrush 3 singing mid section Whitethroat calls single call from lower BF, Blackcap Family party Hanging Grds, + 4 singing mid section, Chiffchaff 5 ( 3 singing) mid section Long Tailed Tit 4+ (family ) Barleyfield Annex Chaffinch 1 singing Station Paddock Bullfinch 2 (1♂) Hanging Grds
thur 28th May 15           morning            mid section mostly cloudy,   9°c,  1014mb,     W 12mph The only bird of note today was a willow warbler by the Graiseley brook culvert. Probably brought in with the over night rain. Mallard 1 br 9 ♀ + 9 chk ( WL family )  MV >> N, Buzzard 1 flushed Wetlands Moorhen 1 Wetland,  pr +   5 chk Prefabs, 1+2 chk Prefab Weir, 1+1 chk Meadow View, Swallow 1 >> N over Barleyfield Wren 9 singing mid section Dunnock 4 singing mid section Robin 5 singing mid section Blackbird 5 singing mid section Song Thrush 3 singing mid section Blackcap 6 singing mid section Chiffchaff 6 singing mid section Willow Warbler 1 Graiseley Culvert Jackdaw few Barleyfield Chaffinch 5 singing mid section