Bird Watching: May 2026

What a lovely day for our walk round the Rivendell Field and the Netherfield Lagoons. Certainly was a big difference to our last outing there when the weather was dreadful. The only downside was that the hedges bushes and trees were all in extensive leaf cover, but we soldiered on using the wonderful Merlin App to help us identify birds by their song and calls.

We all got to be experts in identifying Wrens and Cetti’s Warblers as their calls are so distinctive. Sedge and Reed Warbler's were also around the area too.

This year I noticed that the Whitethroats were back around the field. They were plentiful in 2024 but hardly a one last year. This year I’m delighted to say I’ve seen and heard them including on our birding day.

We managed to spot a fair few birds 25 in all with a further 18 different birds heard by Merlin which isn’t bad going at all - amazing really! John catching sight of a rare Meadow Pipet which we heard on our last walk there. It really just goes to show you don’t have to go far to see our country’s wonderful bird life! My spot of the day goes to a family group of Long Tail Tits and Paul and I watched one tackle a rather large wriggly thing for his elevenses.

The Swallows have returned to the area and we diverted down to the river by the railway bridge to watch them swoop around and nest build a truly lovely sight.

After our lunch accompanied by the twittering of the Little Grebes at the benches between the two lagoons we headed home.

Thanks to John Kennedy for the pictures: