Best day counts of migrants in last ten days or so:

Swift  -  3

Common Sandpiper  -  2

Sand Martin  -  c.25

Swallow  -  5

House Martin  -  8

Willow Warbler  -  6  More this year than in previous three combined, present daily.

Chiffchaff  -  14  Only about two thirds of site covered.

Sedge Warbler  -  1

Reed Warbler  -  3

Blackcap  -  17  Only about two thirds of site covered.

Whitethroat  -  2

But nothing else unfortunately. In past four days have recorded 60 species, getting 51 & 52 yesterday & today.

Both Cetti's Warblers have been showing extremely well in v. early morning, the male coming within 2 ft. of me once.

The B.E.D. Little Grebe pair hatched one chick in midweek, but it only lasted a single day.

The Moorhen pair from the middle of B.E.D. have just hatched 6 young.

Only 11 Coot over the last two weeks, now three sitting birds, one pair thinking of starting again after a recent failure, one pair just getting together, and a spare bird. The male of the B.E.D. pair has a white darvic ring, fitted at Chorlton W.P. on 7th Jan. 2023.

The Raven pair now prefers the pylon just W. of the canal to that by B.E.D., and seems to go towards Stretford Meadows to feed. The other pair of the two pairs present last seen heading off to SE a couple of weeks ago.

Willow Tit, just one singing around eastern part of site.

The Jackdaw roost at B.E.D. was down to 225 in midweek.

The only unusual migrant activity for here in last few days:

Lapwing - 1 high over to E.

Sparrowhawk - 2 together high over to E., much to the annoyance of the local birds.

Rook - 1 high over to SW one morning, and 3 together similarly the next morning.

Only just about enough to get me out of bed at 0500hrs. every morning.