Visited a couple of sites today (Thursday 22 April):
LMGP - a Common Sandpiper on the tern raft and then the south bank and the Common Tern flock had risen to 4 birds.
Dorney Lake - first visit since the causeway was re-opened. A cracking male WHINCHAT was on the fence at the start of the return lake, although I couldn't find it later on my return. 6 Northern Wheatears, 4m, 2f were also at the start of the return lake and having just read Kevin D's e-mail from last night, might be yesterday's birds? A Common Redshank was also on the edge of the return lake here. About 20 Common Swifts called noisily overhead for a while before moving on, a single flock of about 15 birds and 2 groups of 2. Nothing much else except another male Wheatear by the seasonal pool - yesterday's bird? 2 Shelduck on the Reserve Pool and another on the Seasonal Pool.
Frustratingly, I was at Dorney Wetlands yesterday afternoon, briefly, and did not have time to check Dorney Lake, so whether I could have jammed in on the Avocet, who knows. There were 4 Hobbies hawking together over DW and Slough Sewage Farm yesterday, which is only just into Berks, but none strayed over the border. I have now seen 9 Hobbies over the past 3 days, groups of 4, 2, 2 and 1, but all in Berks.
Adam Bassett