More Chiffchaffs have arrived.

With a hint of blue in between the gathering clouds mid morning I headed for Stoke Meadows to check for any new arrivals.

Very high water levels at the weir after the overnight rains.

Very little to be seen across the water meadows apart from the usual Canada Geese, all paired up.

Treading carefully across the boardwalk whilst being bombarded by the constant calls of Wrens and Great Tits. 

On the lake were Mallard, more Canada Geese, Coot, Cormorant and one Great Crested Grebe. No signs of any Martins or Swallows today but the path-side vegetation filled with the constant calls of Wrens and the measured but forceful notes emanating from a number of CHIFFCHAFF singing from the highest perches having just returned from their wintering grounds around the Mediterranean and North Africa.  

I patiently waited for one to descend lower but with two individuals trying to out-sing each other that was not going to happen so both these shots are heavily cropped.

One decided to take a brief rest from singing but still kept an eye open for intruders.

On my journey back to the car I heard and then located a Willow Warbler (first for 2010) and a newly arrived male Blackcap flitting about within a small patch of mixed woodland, but neither species made themselves available for a photo-call.  No birding tomorrow, apart from through the car window, as there is a gathering of Anita's family at a restaurant in Hampshire to celebrate her mothers' 80th birthday.  FAB.