Three species I did see that weren't on yesterdays list were JAY, TREECREEPER and GREY LAG GOOSE, so 55 species for the weekend isn't bad. I wanted to find the first Nuthatch of the month, but they continue to elude me, and the Spotted flycatchers still havn't arrived, it's now 3 days after the mean arrival date, and 1 day later than last years arrivals. I wonder if any have been recorded inland yet?
The Garden Warblers in the lakeside scrub have stopped singing, I havn't heard them all weekend, but on the positive side another LESSER WHITETHROAT arrived on my patch today, it was singing from a patch of bramble in the College grounds.
A third of the way through may, and it seems I have already recorded all that I could reasonably expect, (except the Spot. Fly's) All the expected migrants have been seen, and the scarcer migrants like Yellow Wagtail, Wheater and Whinchat also turned up, as well as the rarer Reed Warbler, so it's going to be tough to add the 3 species needed to get the 100 year total, certainly before the Autumn. Best hope is for a flyover Common Tern, or a Mandarin Duck on the lake and of course the spot. fly. More unlikely would be a Sedge Warbler, or maybe a Red Kite. I still enjoy the challenge though, and i'll be out there for the rest of May, checking the sky and scouring the hedges!
In answer to adam's (http://dittoneastmallingbarming.blogspot.com/ )question on yeserday's blog, last year I had an all time record year list of 106, and at the end of May last year I had only recorded 87 species, a full 10 behind this year!
Not many photo oportunities today, but a Grey lag Goose flew low over my head, so he got snapped.
Also this Whitethroat, singing from an aerial, the first time i've seen one on such a structure!
10 comments:
Well, i for one believe you`ll hit 100 before the year end, Warren. Go for it.
Hi Warren,as you say a good spot the Whinchat, we looked when we arrived at a Blackbird and as that flew I noticed a different looking bird land. I look forward to a walk out with you somewhen. Nice photo of the Whitethroat on the aerial, I though mine looked quite sweet next to the Crow. Dave did get the hump with me, thats 2 firsts on his patch that I have spotted.
Hi Warren,
We were traveling in the north of Reykjavik this week end and I have to say that I thought about you and the number of species you will see on your patch this week-end. For me, I have to go away from the capital area now to add more species, unless some stupid flocks of humming birds or something, decide to stop by Iceland ;-) We ended-up by seeing 45 species now in two-days, which is not bad at all! BUT we got the same weather as you did, even still some snow storm. Spring is not really there yet, and I hope that for both of us, the sun will shine soon again.
Thanks for update on records on species numbers - looks like your on for a new record? There again shouldn't count your chickens too soon (can you count Chicken on the list?!). Don't keep stats on my patch as don't keep a regular pattern from year to year and rarely get to visit the whole patch each day - kids and work, that's my excuse!!!
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Hi Warren
I to have faith in you that you will hit the 100 with no problem, but don't take too many of those tablet's otherwaise god knows what you will see.
...I enlarged the photo of the Whitethroat for a better look. What a cute bird. He definitely looks like he'd better suited sitting on something green! We should take bets on when you hit the magic number...
Warren: Very cool shot of the Grey Lag Goose, I saw one the other day with two Canada Geese.
I would say that's a very good list! Loved the photos of the Whitethroat and the Greylag Goose.
Interesting Whitethroat behaviour... are there any natural, high-vantage points in the area that it may use as song posts?
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