A Blackcap was doing its best to sing from cover first thing, and a Green Woodpecker called, both not at there best in the wet and cool weather. Greenfinches continually sing and give their display flights around the village, no matter what the weather.
In the evening I visited Shawell lagoons, not too many gulls were present, but a 1winter Yellow-legged Gulls was amongst the Herring and Lesser-black backed Gulls. A Green Woodpecker was present, they like the banks, which are good for ants. A Mistle Thrush dropped in, one has been heard singing a little way off. Two Little-ringed Plover were found after awhile, they may have flew in from some new nearby pools which had 4 LRPs seen earlier by Carl. A single Swallow and 3 Sand Martins flew around the lagoons for a while.
Afterwards I popped back to the new pools and 2 LRPs were present, and also a Green Sandpiper. These pools look like they have good potential, I shall keep an eye on them and find out more whether they will be permanent or temporary.
Thursday, 7 April 2016
Wednesday, 6 April 2016
6th April - by mid-morning the wind had become blusterly, NW and much cooler with showers, some hail.
Due to jobs and weather no obs today.
Tuesday, 5 April 2016
5th April - sunny spells, light SW, 12C
This morning I made a couple of stops at two places, firstly Frolesworth manor lake, which can attract quite a good selection of birds over the year. Most noteworthy I found 3 Willow Warblers in the bordering hedgerow, occasionally giving muted song, one kept still long enough to attempt a photo. Given this is not their usual habitat, it seems these are migrants that have decided to have a rest and feed.
Also, present was 1 great-crested Grebe on the lake, 2 Canada Geese and 5 Tufted Duck, plus several Coots.
The next stop was the local lake near the village, here also a single Willow Warbler was singing, and 2 Chiffchaff. The Little grebes were very noisy 'trilling' away. A pair of Bullfinch were present and ~15 Goldfinch were feeding on Teasels.
It was nice to see a Small Tortoiseshell butterfly making the most of the sun.
A quick evening visit to the local reservoir produced 27 Goldeneye, soon these will head-off north.
There was about 20 each of Swallow and Sand Martin, also one House Martin. A Cetti's Warbler sang several times.
Driving past the Little Owl tree I was able to see it was sitting out surveying the scene, so I was able to get a photo through the window, without bothering it.
Monday, 4 April 2016
4th April - mostly cloudy, showers late pm, 12C max, light - fresh S/SW
A fairly quite day in terms of new sightings, about 1630h ~20 Goldfinch circled over the village and settled in nearby tree tops.
I made a quick stop at the local reservoir this afternoon, 2 Kingfishers were in their favourite area, one chasing the other before disappearing from view. Two Goosanders (a male and female) were present, also 14 Goldeneye were counted, otherwise little else new was on the water, although there does seem more Great-crested Grebes than last year, hopefully some will nest. 8 Swallows, 2 House Martins and a Sand Martin were feeding, several Chiffchaffs were about.
I made a quick stop at the local reservoir this afternoon, 2 Kingfishers were in their favourite area, one chasing the other before disappearing from view. Two Goosanders (a male and female) were present, also 14 Goldeneye were counted, otherwise little else new was on the water, although there does seem more Great-crested Grebes than last year, hopefully some will nest. 8 Swallows, 2 House Martins and a Sand Martin were feeding, several Chiffchaffs were about.
Sunday, 3 April 2016
3rd April - cloudy morning, sunny spells later, occasionally low cloud/dull, light S/SW wind, 14C
This morning a single Meadow Pipit flew over north, a Blackcap gave short bursts of song on the old disused railway. At the feed station a Nuthatch, 4 Tree Sparrows and 10 Yellowhammers were feeding, 2 male Great-spotted Woodpeckers were disputing who should feed on the nut feeder.
Two Mistle thrushes were quite noisy, probably because they were very actively collecting nest material and taking it to a nearby tree.
An afternoon visit to Eyebrook reservoir was made to see what migrants could be found. Two Yellow Wagtail were searching the rushes along the waters edge and a single Little-ringed Plover was feeding on the exposed ground at the inlet end. ~20 Swallows appeared, together with a similar number of Sand Martins and 3 House Martins.
On the water there were still 2 Goldeneye, 4 Shelduck, quite a few Gadwall and a good number of Teal, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Common and Black-headed Gulls. A Grey Heron and 2 Little Egrets were feeding at the waters edge, 2 Red Kite passed over and a Kestrel was hunting the rough grass. Linnets, a Bullfinch pair and Chaffinch were seen, on the bird feeder at least 2 Tree Sparrows and 2 Greenfinch were present. A Green Woodpecker repeatedly called from the woodland.
In the long rough grass, around the reservoir, there were many Pheasants, the cocks often displaying and accompanied by one or more hen bird.
Two Mistle thrushes were quite noisy, probably because they were very actively collecting nest material and taking it to a nearby tree.
An afternoon visit to Eyebrook reservoir was made to see what migrants could be found. Two Yellow Wagtail were searching the rushes along the waters edge and a single Little-ringed Plover was feeding on the exposed ground at the inlet end. ~20 Swallows appeared, together with a similar number of Sand Martins and 3 House Martins.
On the water there were still 2 Goldeneye, 4 Shelduck, quite a few Gadwall and a good number of Teal, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Common and Black-headed Gulls. A Grey Heron and 2 Little Egrets were feeding at the waters edge, 2 Red Kite passed over and a Kestrel was hunting the rough grass. Linnets, a Bullfinch pair and Chaffinch were seen, on the bird feeder at least 2 Tree Sparrows and 2 Greenfinch were present. A Green Woodpecker repeatedly called from the woodland.
In the long rough grass, around the reservoir, there were many Pheasants, the cocks often displaying and accompanied by one or more hen bird.
Saturday, 2 April 2016
2nd April - cloudy morning, becoming mostly sunny and warm, max 16C during the afternoon, light SW
Finally, a Chiffchaff singing from the tree tops along the disused railway east of the village, not to have heard one here in March is most unusual. No Redwings or Fieldfares in the usual places near the village.
A visit to the local lake during the morning did not produce any further migrants, but nice to see 3 pairs of Little Grebe though. While there Carl called to say he had found the colour ringed Baltic Gull at Shawell lagoons (he saw it a few days ago). This is the nominate race of the Lesser-black backed Gull, which occurs in some parts of north and eastern Europe, it can be very difficult to identify due to the plumage variation within the Lesser-black backed Gull group, but to find one that was ringed in a pure Baltic Gull colony in Norway removes any doubt. In the photos I took, it is the bird near the front, you can just make out the ring and it appears a tone blacker than the Lesser-black backed gulls near to it, like the one just behind it that is stretching its neck up and calling.
For movement information on Baltic Gull (J727) and closer photos see Carls blog, 'bag a wild one'.
While at Shawell a small flock of Sand Martin moved through, a Great-crested Grebe and Shelduck pair were present.
I visited the local reservoir in the afternoon, the fishermen told me I had just missed a Red Kite. The only migrants I found were a single Chiffchaff and Blackcap sang briefly intermittently. For such a lovely afternoon it was remarkably quite, even the Cettis Warbler was singing quietly from cover. At least 10 Goldeneye were still present, but only one (male) Pochard was seen.
No butterflies were spotted either, so hopefully they will be out next visit.
A visit to the local lake during the morning did not produce any further migrants, but nice to see 3 pairs of Little Grebe though. While there Carl called to say he had found the colour ringed Baltic Gull at Shawell lagoons (he saw it a few days ago). This is the nominate race of the Lesser-black backed Gull, which occurs in some parts of north and eastern Europe, it can be very difficult to identify due to the plumage variation within the Lesser-black backed Gull group, but to find one that was ringed in a pure Baltic Gull colony in Norway removes any doubt. In the photos I took, it is the bird near the front, you can just make out the ring and it appears a tone blacker than the Lesser-black backed gulls near to it, like the one just behind it that is stretching its neck up and calling.
While at Shawell a small flock of Sand Martin moved through, a Great-crested Grebe and Shelduck pair were present.
I visited the local reservoir in the afternoon, the fishermen told me I had just missed a Red Kite. The only migrants I found were a single Chiffchaff and Blackcap sang briefly intermittently. For such a lovely afternoon it was remarkably quite, even the Cettis Warbler was singing quietly from cover. At least 10 Goldeneye were still present, but only one (male) Pochard was seen.
No butterflies were spotted either, so hopefully they will be out next visit.
Friday, 1 April 2016
1st April - cloudy, light breeze/wind S//SW 11C
During the morning a couple of Fieldfare and single Redwing flew over the village, with a few more seen/heard later and a Great-spotted Woodpecker flew around the gardens. Seven Starling were hanging around too.
A charm of ~10 Goldfinch buzzed about, while a male has been singing a lot, while perched in the church Horse chestnut. The 'sticky buds' on this tree have begun to open over the last few days.
A male Sparrowhawk chased a Blue Tit around a bush in the garden, without success.
A charm of ~10 Goldfinch buzzed about, while a male has been singing a lot, while perched in the church Horse chestnut. The 'sticky buds' on this tree have begun to open over the last few days.
A male Sparrowhawk chased a Blue Tit around a bush in the garden, without success.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)