Nothing much at all to post about today, not even got a photo to brighten the page!
A two hour visit from 06:00hrs over to Migrant Alley proved a total waste of effort, mainly due to the Southerly gale that was blowing, hardly a bird was seen unsurprisingly!
Most of the morning was then spent in my garden, improving the ponds and borders for the wildlife that visit, generous amounts of time were given to watching the sky whilst I worked, however the only birds of note seen, whizzing past on the gale, were 4 HOUSE MARTINS.
A visit to the lakes, just after mid -day, once again proved a fruitless excercise, as the wind roaring through the trees even managed to drown out the sound of the squabbling CANADA GEESE on the water, I did see the COOT family though, and can confirm 5 out of the 6 chicks are still going strong. I also checked up on the nesting GREYLAG GOOSE, the female is incubating still, so far so good :-)
The two highlights of the day came when I walked back home, the first was seeing the MANDARIN DUCK pair in the Wet Woods, the other was seeing a COMMON BUZZARD going low over Ashes Lane.
Thats it! Still 3 hours daylight left, but it's still blowing a gale, so i'll have to wait til morning for another chance to find the next summer migrant on patch, talking of which, the Cuckoo has still not arrived, the past 11 years it has always turned up between the 13th and 18th of April, I dont think they are late, just so scarce here now that finally the pittswood territory has lost its occupier. I should at least get a passage bird through at some point though...........hopefully
8 comments:
Dear oh dear the weather is still not cooperating is it Warren, and up here we have had the same strong and gusty winds :-( Southerlies are forecast for the weekend though, so maybe they'll bring you your first Cuckoo of the year :-)
We've even had downpours of hail in the last couple of hours! The wind really is awful. I do hope your Cuckoo is still just late and that it arrives soon. They have definitely declined in my area. It's a case of if I hear one now rather than when I hear one
Hi David,
It's all so very frustrating!!!!
Songbird, just had a heavy downpour here too, :-(
I'm not just concerned with about Cuckoo's, the likes of Turtle Dove, Spotted Flycatcher, Garden Warbler and Lesser whitethroat are all hanging on by the feathertips here, the amount of habitat that has been ripped out here over the last ten years is truly appalling :-(
Warren.
The weather was certainly against you today. Your Cuckoo should make a appearanceand day now, hopefully you will get a few shots of it when it does, if you do, I will look forward to seeing them.
Do you ever get or have you ever had a female hepatic Cuckoo on your patch or passing through?
Nice to see that I wasn't the only one to see House Martins today.
Warren, know how you feel but high pressure setting in tomorrow so....stand by your bed!!
Ken, I'll do my best to get a Cuckoo Photo.........if one occupies my patch!
Ive not seen any hepatic Cuckoo here mate :-)
Hi Pete,
The high pressure wont affect here until Saturday ;-/
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