A thoroughly miserable bank holiday patch walk this morning, with a gusty wind, plus persistent light rain, and that was the best part of the day!
Little could be expected in such conditions and indeed such was the case, with just 38 species being found, however, one of those species made the visit worth while, when my first WILLOW WARBLER (79, 56) of the spring was heard singing from a large garden over by the Scrubby Woods, a spring migrant visits at last :-)
Willow Warblers ceased to breed on my patch some years ago, their favoured habitat was lost, and with it the the birds, they are now a passage species on my patch, so I rarely get to here that lovely summery song with its delicate descending notes. The willow Warblers arrival this year is 3 days later than the median average arrival date, and the date range for the first sighting of willow Warbler on my patch is from the earliest one on 24 March (2010) to the latest one on 20th April (2002).
Better weather tomorrow, for the morning at least, could make for a more interesting day, and maybe the camera will get a trip out !
13 comments:
Snap, with Willow Warbler, Warren.
Don`t have too good a morning will you!!! I`m working ;-(
Nice one with the Willow Warbler. I had my first as well today in the lovely British weather!
Well done Warren! That must have really cheered up a miserable day :-)
The rain has turned quite heavy here this evening.
A warm welcome to the spring migrants, hooray! L
The Willow Warbler vertainly made it a worthwhile visit Warren. Not a sniff of one at Shenstone yet. At this rate I will be having Whitethroat before Willow Warbler
Dean,
You'll be kept informed :-)
Linda,
Hooray indeed! Hopefully more will follow :-)
Marc,
The weather isn't always crappy - just on bank holidays! :-)
Songbird,
It did cheer a really miserable morning, looks much better tomorrow though :-)
Jase,
It is slow this year mate, just keep at it :-)
Willow warbler singing would brighten any day Warren...not had one yet and not many around so far. Think there's been some blocking weather just north of the Med
Cheers
Davo
Not a great day today but love your Cuckoo header and the Willow Warbler is good as well.
Well let's hope they will come back on your patch regularly... 79 species, I'm trying to reach 60 for the moment but it is still quite over here. Well the first golden plovers have appeared so it can only be better now ;-)
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