Tuesday 24 April 2012

The rain slowly cleared over the course of the morning, leaving a mostly cloudy afternoon for my patch visit, although at times the sun did break through, making it feel a bit warmer.

I walked over to the Lakes and Scrubby Wood area, I wanted to see how the COOTS were doing with their four youngsters, I found them easy enough, but alas one of the chicks has already gone!
Two of the Coot chicks - the first ever seen at Pittswood   :-)
I think this adult is the male

Whilst with the Coots, a WILLOW WARBLER was heard to sing, no doubt another ''just passing through'' The BARNACLE GOOSE was also seen with its CANADA GOOSE mate, plus two MOORHENS three drake MALLARDS and another Canada Goose sitting tight on its nest.

In the Scrubby Woods I listened hard for a Turtle Dove, Lesser Whitethroat or maybe an early Garden Warbler, but none have arrived here yet, the already arrived, paired up, and nesting CHIFFCHAFFS were very vocal, as were the BLACKCAPS, they were also busy with nests. GREEN and GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKERS were making themselves obvious today,  the songs of ROBIN, DUNNOCK, BLACKBIRD, SONGTHRUSH, and WREN, as well as all the calls of the Tits and finch's plus a distant NUTHATCH made for an enjoyable hour there.

The habitual sky watch over on my seat at Migrant Alley, produced a SPARROWHAWK, and four local SWALLOWS, but not the hoped for Yellow Wagtail, the KESTREL pair were both seen around the nest box, with the male hunting over the Greenhouse Complex too, the recently arrived Whitethroat in the Greenhouse Complex Grounds seems to have moved on  :-(
A view through the Wet Woods
ROOK on the sheep pasture at Migrant Alley
Rook

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

That adult Coot looks like it`s proud as punch.

Warren Baker said...

Hello Dean,
fingers crossed for a successful outcome for the three survivors :-)

Lancashire and Lakeland Outback Adventure Wildlife Safaris said...

Hope the cootlings survive Warren

Cheers

Davo

Marc Heath said...

Nice photo looking through the wood. I might take up swimming soon, the amount of rain we are getting. I think it playing havoc with the migrants arriving.

kirstallcreatures said...

Good luck to the Coots, the bluebell view is lovely, there's nothing else like them, Linda

Jason K said...

It seems like something is holding up a number of the migrant species Warren, particularly the warblers.

Other than the Chiffys, Ive only got 1 Common Whitethroat, 1 Willow Warbler and 2 Blackcaps on patch at the mo! what a weird spring!

Marianne said...

Nice to have a new breeding species for the patch :) Coots do have a habit of bumping off their own offspring so that could be what happened to no. 4.

ShySongbird said...

Lovely to see the little Cootlets :-) Those Bluebells look a picture Warren!

Ornitocampero.blogspot.com.es said...

Love that cuco pic in your blog!
Saludos!