Overcast but bright this morning, and there was a fairly strong northerly blowing. Many of the Ash trees are now coming into leaf ,which is very late this year - looks like we're in for a 'splash' this summer!
Ash leaves
Warblers noted today were as follows: 14 Blackcaps, 4 Chiffchaffs, 1 Willow Warbler, 12 Whitethroats, 2 Sedge Warblers - 1 on the Pitch & Putt side of the Lake, and 1 in the 'marsh' viewed from the Weir bridge - and 6 Reed Warblers.
Mistle Thrush
The local Starlings, Blackbirds, and Mistle Thrushes are clearly busy finding food to bring back to their nests. Whilst walking through the rough grassland north of the River Len, a Crow's 'raptor call' alerted me to a Sparrowhawk and a Grey Heron.
Grey Heron
2 Pheasants were noted, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker called from an Oak along the Len Valley, 2 Green Woodpeckers were heard, 2 Nuthatches were heard, 3 Treecreepers were singing, 4 Goldcrests were noted, a Coal Tit sang from a yew tree along Laurel Walk, 2 Linnets were seen in the Old Cattle Area (largest area of rough grassland), and it was brilliant to find the first House Martins of the year, with 11 birds hunting insects above the Lake with 6 Swallows.
Male Pheasant
7 Tufted Ducks have arrived on the Lake - 2 pairs on the northern edge of the Lake, and 2 males and 1 female by the island next to the Weir bridge. As per normal there were 6 Great Crested Grebes and 12 Mute Swans, and today there were 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 1 Herring Gull with the 47 Black-headed Gulls.
Tufted Ducks
I have never seen them using this feeding method before - they were swimming in circles just like Shovelers do!
2 comments:
Maybe there was a fly hatch going on Simon and scooping them off the surface was the easiest way.
Don't like the sound of a splash this summer.
Hi Simon, just catching up with some Blogs here, and ive got to say your new style blog is looking great, as are your larger photos mate, cheer.
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