Saturday, April 11, 2009

Saturday 11th April

It was grey and damp during my visit this morning. Despite the conditions 3 butterfly species were seen.

8 Blackcap and 5 Chiff Chaff were singing, 2 Goldcrest were singing along Laurel Walk, 6 Jays were seen, 4 Pheasants were heard calling, 3 Nuthatch were noted, 4 Green Woodpeckers were spotted – with 1 pair investigating a hole in a tree – 2 Little Owls were noted – 1 bird was perched on a branch in the usual old Oak whilst another called from the small group of Oaks in the middle of the rough grassland – 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers were drumming, a Willow Warbler was discovered singing from the willow in the scrub area opposite the Inlet – the first of the year – 3 Treecreeper were heard singing along the River Len, a pair of Kestrels were courting in the grassland south of the Len, 2 Stock Doves were seen, and 3 Grey Herons were seen along the River Len.

2 Mute Swans were feeding in the marsh area of the Len, and birds of particular note on the Lake were 6 Great Crested Grebes, 5 Canada Geese, a pair of Tufted Duck, and 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls. The gull flock were mainly on the playing fields and held at least 58 Black-headed Gulls, 11 Common Gulls, and 1 Herring Gull.

Water Forget-me-not

Greater Stitchwort flowers were beginning to open and the Wild Cherry are flowering in the strip of wood running along the top of Jenner’s Bank, Water Forget-me-not is flowering along the "unnamed" stream , and the 3 species of butterfly seen were 2 Commas, 1 Red Admiral and 1 Peacock.

Comma

4 comments:

Warren Baker said...

Nice one with the Willow Warbler Simon. Such great little songsters!

Ken. said...

Hi Simon.
As you say, not the best of weather, all be it you did well to see what you did. Nice picture of the Comm,a.

Steve said...

Some really excellent photos lately Simon - you are really getting to grips with the 40D aren't you

Anonymous said...

A magic touch with the photography. The water forgetmenot is a beautiful shade of blue. It grows along a stream bank near me (on the IoW) but I don't think it's flowering yet.

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