Saturday 7 April 2012

All change with the weather again! It was back to the cold, overcast conditions for this mornings full patch walk, when in four hours I recorded 48 species, most of those being the common regular species, but there were also a few highlights. One of those was seeing two KINGFISHERS chasing through the trees along the College stream, also good views of a COMMON BUZZARD were had as it floated low over the Tree Nursery, finally alighting in a small apple tree in a large garden, nice garden tick for someone!

On the lakes, it was again mostly CANADA GEESE, 14 in all, but today two GREYLAG GEESE had joined them, the BARNACLE GOOSE was also present as was the COOT pair, and a few MALLARDS and MOORHENS. Much song was heard in the Scrubby Woods, despite the dull conditions, singing from , WREN, ROBIN, DUNNOCK, BLACKBIRD, SONGTHRUSH, MISTLE THRUSH, CHIFFCHAFF, BLACKCAP, GOLDCREST, TREECREEPER and CHAFFINCH, also the calls of NUTHATCH and BULLFINCH were heard, all helping make light of the gloom.

Flyovers today, whilst sitting over on my sky watching seat at Migrant Alley, included a SPARROWHAWK, and a passage of MEADOW PIPITS, of which small groups of 9, 6, 4 and another 9 all flew North West, but the main highlight of the visit was seeing my first SWALLOW (78,55) of the year, only a brief sighting, as it sped over northwards, but how apt that it turns up on my birthday  :-)

This years first Swallow sighting comes eight days later than last year, and 6 days later than the 11 year mean arrival date, the local Swallows wont be long in arriving now!

With the dull conditions the camera stayed at home today  :-(

9 comments:

Wilma said...

Happy Birthday, Warren!

Warren Baker said...

Thank you Wilma :-)

Marc Heath said...

Happy Birthday mate, hope the rest of the weekend turns up something for you, and I don't mean rain!

ShySongbird said...

Wishing you a Very, Very Happy Birthday Warren and many more of them :-) What a shame the sun didn't shine for you, you certainly did get a nice present with the Swallow though! I was stood listening to birdsong in a wood (well, more of a spinney really) last week and it was the only sound to be heard, I could have stayed there for ever, it completely filled the air and was really magical :-)

Cold, dull and drizzly here today, what a difference from a week ago!

Jason K said...

Happy Birthday Warren...I remeber when I turned 30 too mate! ;-)

Nice one on the Swallow, not had a single hirundine on my patch yet. Did have a Yellow wag and just a few Wheatears today though!!!

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday, Warren. And not a bad way to celebrate it, with your first Swallows of the year.

Warren Baker said...

Thanks to all for the birthday wishes, one away from my half century now :-(

Millhouse Photography said...

Aha (not like A. Partridge), the first swallow. Excellent news.

Millhouse Photography said...

Oh yeah, forgot to mention - happy birthday!