Sunday 24 February 2008

At 6:50 this morning it was dull and overcast, but by 8:30 the sky cleared and warm sunshine broke through. The last full walk round my patch for February didn't provide any new species for the year or month, but a few shorter walks, as well as trips to work this week might provide an early migrant.
The 44 species seen this morning were of the usual mix seen on the past 3 visits, only 2 Gulls flew over - they were HERRING GULLS and at the lake a pair of CORMORANT fished, I did get a pic. of one, but they are hard to get close to. The wet woods had no TEAL that I could see, but I did find 3 in a large ditch, that fills with rain water that runs off the roof of a small greenhouse complex. At the point where the water comes out from a pipe, down from the roof, is a small area of bramble and sycamore - or was, it was slashed and burned yesterday afternoon, another good nesting place gone, at this rate there will be nothing left for the summer visitors to breed in!
Migrant alley had its usual mix of FIELDFARE and REDWING 200min covered the pasture. The first kestrel since the 17th flew over, It seemed to be in a display flight, resembling the flickering wingbeats of a cuckoo.


Teal In A Ditch Of Run Off Water

A Very Wary CORMORANT


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