Friday 8 March 2013

Wet and Dull

Overcast, misty, 10º, moderate to light rain, light E.

A walk out to Lollingdon hill today in the vain hope of an early migrant but as usual no luck. Light rain all the time I was out and quite muddy conditions en route. Small flocks of Redwing and Fieldfare and a few Starling mixed in, most sat in tree tops chattering away, also a small flock of eight Song Thrush, seen feeding in close proximity to each other and eventually flew off together so I assume they were migrants passing through. Around twenty other Song Thrush noted but all in ones or twos and along hedgerows.
A few Yellowhammer and Reed Bunting around and two Corn Bunting singing on Lollingdon hill.

The garden still hosting the pair of Mallard twice a day and the pair of Stock Dove still regular, two Song Thrush also regular and the two Blackcap still present although they should be leaving sometime this month presumably for Eastern Europe. A couple of pairs of Blue Tit are inspecting the nest boxes in the garden, all the other regulars still present also. A Grey Heron heard regularly flying over at dawn most days recently.
A couple of Starling, a handful of House Sparrow and two Magpie frequently in the front garden of Marymead.


 
The first few common spring migrants have now started to reach our shores. The first Sand Martin was reported in Suffolk on 2nd March, followed by the first two Northern Wheatear on 5th in Devon and Ceredigion. Today brought the first confirmed sighting of Barn Swallow on the Isles of Scilly. Courtesy Rare Bird Network.
 

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