Hazy, and the blustery north-east winds continuing, but a great record of 2 Common Terns at Bramley Park Lake made the relatively early (for a Saturday!) start worthwhile. The birds, presumably a pair, were picked up at 06:48 and left south-west at 06:55, one having caught a fish. This is in fact only the 5th documented record of this species here, though it's very likely many more have flown over. However, it remains a rare patch bird, with about 2 a year average. 5 Cormorants here was notable for the time of year. Elsewhere, a female Cuckoo was a very pleasing (and uncommon) sight, and a few more Swifts moved east. Highlights as follows:
06:30-08:30
Bramley Park Lake: 2 Common Terns c.06:48-06:55, then SW, 5 Cormorants, 1 Blackcap and 1 Grey Heron.
Mill Pond: 6 Mute Swans and 2 Grey Herons.
Thorncombe Street: 1 Whitethroat, 1 Raven and 4 Red-legged Partridges.
Winkworth Arboretum: 6 Tufted Ducks (♂♀♂♀♂♀), 2 Mandarins (♂♂), 3 Blackcaps and 1 Chiffchaff.
Scrubbin's Pond: 10+ Greylag Geese (+ 19 chicks), 3 Blackcaps, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Red Kite, 3 Buzzards and 5 Swifts E.
Palmer's Cross: 1 Cuckoo (♀) and 2 Blackcaps.
