Early morning at Maple Lodge

An early morning start began at the Clubhouse Hide where a pair of Common Moorhen were busily feeding their young.

Above on the feeders several juvenile Blue Tit and Great Tit revelled on the free handouts.

They were later joined by an adult and Juvenile Great-spotted Woodpecker that briefly posed for the camera.

Out on the marsh a female Tufted Duck was noted with three ducklings from the Teal Hide and later at Shell Hide a female Pochard was observed with four ducklings.
At Lynsters Farm a female Mallard was present on the flooded part of the cow field with a brood of ducklings. Several species of warbler were heard singing including Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Reed Warbler and Common Chiffchaff. On returning back to the Clubhouse Hide a Cuckoo was briefly observed as it flew overhead. On leaving I noted a single Eurasian Oystercatcher feeding on the cricket field.