Friday, April 25, 2008

Friday 25th April

Under an overcast sky the temperature was rather mild during my walk this morning.

Today I was treated to 2 new bird species for the year with both of them being spotted on my first scan of the Lake, just 15 minutes into the visit. Firstly 2 Sand Martins were observed hunting insects over the Lake and, after hearing its distinctive call, a Common Sandpiper was spotted flying low of the surface of the Lake heading towards the eastern end.

13 Blackcaps, 7 Chiff Chaffs, and 20 Whitethroat were heard singing, a Grey Wagtail called as it flew over, a pair of Linnets were seen in a Hawthorn in the scrub area by the Inlet, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers were heard, a Little Owl could just be made out sitting in its hole, 3 Pheasants called, 2 Green Woodpeckers were seen, a Treecreeper called from an Alder in the Alder Carr, 2 Nuthatch were heard singing, a Stock Dove was heard, 2 Jay were seen on Jenner’s Bank, and as I walked through the largest area of rough grassland 2 Swallows whizzed past flying west.

Birds seen on the Lake were 2 Canada Geese, 2 Mute Swans, 2 Tuftie, 2 Great Crested Grebes, and the countless Mallards, Coots and Moorhens. The gull flock on the Lake consisted of roughly 15 Black-headed Gulls, and also noted were 6 Reed Warblers singing around the perimeter of the Lake, a male Kingfisher was seen catching 2 fish by the Weir - I tried to take some photos but just 1 was clear, 2 Greylag Geese flew onto the Lake, and a Grey Heron perched on a low bough of an Oak on the eastern end of the Lake.

Kingfisher - my only clear photo

Also of note are the Cowslips in full flower on Jenner's Bank.

Cowslip
Primula veris

2 comments:

Warren Baker said...

Common Sandpipier - Excellent species Simon, yet to find one on my patch!
Nice try with the kingfisher, I havn't even got a blurred shot of one!

Steve said...

Agree about the Kingfisher - I haven't ever been able to get half a photo of one!

Next Event - TBA