Cassiobury Park - 1.4.11

April already! The main highlights in the morning were the pair of Mandarins still on the river and for once showing very well viewable from the bench by the dog bin and rubbish bin (oh the glamour!). There was 5 each of Chiffchaff and Blackcap between the meadow and the northern part of the nature reserve.Also in the nature reserve were 2 Kingfishers and a Cormorant flew over. The first birds of the day were around a dozen Lesser Redpolls in trees around Cha cha cafe but had gone by 11am. A Little Egret was on the river further downstream than the Mandarins (possibly the first April record?) A Sparrowhawk was escorted out of the park by 2 RN Parakeets but the best was saved till last when at2.50pm a Red Kite loomed into view over the paddling pools before heading off over Whippendell Woods.