Spring still giving

Cloudy, 12°, breezy S.

Bunk line and Gravel pit:

75+ Hirundines feeding low over CSW, mainly House Martin and a fair number of Swallow and a Yellow Wagtail present.

GP hosted 2 Shelduck, a Great-crested Grebe, a Common Sandpiper, 2 Oystercatcher, 8 Lapwing and 4 Tufted Duck. 3 House Martin, 2 Swallow and a Sand Martin feeding overhead.

Several Chiffchaff and Blackcap on walk.

On Sunday spent some time in the garden and had an unusual garden tick. An Oystercatcher flew over then 5 minutes later a Kingfisher (5th garden record) flew downstream over the brook.

Butterflies: a few Peacock and a Speckled Wood.

A lot of Hawthorn Fly (Bibio marci) around today.

Unidentified Duck sp found along footpath

Ducks etc

Hazy sunshine, 12°, light ENE.

A few hours put in at the gravel pit today.

2 Little Grebe, a Great-crested Grebe, 2 Shelduck, 32 Shoveler, 16 Tufted Duck, 6 Gadwall, a Pochard, 20 Lapwing, an Oystercatcher, 1, pos 2 Little Ringed Plover, c60 Lesser Blackback Gull, 6 Common Gull, 12 Black-headed Gull, a Grey Wagtail and a Chiffchaff and Blackcap.

On the walk, 4 Lapwing near Green Lane, 2 Chiffchaff, 20 Fieldfare and 7 Redwing, 2+ Herring Gull in their usual spot at CSW.

This morning, on the Wally road flood, an Oystercatcher, a Lapwing, a Black-headed Gull, 8 Teal and last evening 2 Lapwing and 3 Gadwall. Per Michael Pocock.

Butterflies: just Peacock today.

A break in the weather

Light to heavy rain showers, 10°, light to breezy SW.

My first time out this year as the weather has been rather inclement with several storms passing through. Waited in this morning for the weather to clear. Very muddy underfoot and a lot of flood areas around. Alan also out and we covered the Bunk line and the river areas.

A few species of note: 3 Goose Species, Teal, Great Crested Grebe, 2 Little Grebe, 4 Grey Heron, Sparrowhawk, Cormorant, Green Sandpiper, Kingfisher, 30+ Pied Wagtail, 200+ Fieldfare, c50 Redwing, 2 Mistle Thrush (1 in song), Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Treecreeper, Raven, 200+ Starling and 6 Yellowhammer.

63 species so far this year.

Sparrowhawk courtesy Alan

A Fieldfare with an eye condition. not sure what it is? Possibly Avian Pox. Photo courtesy Alan.

Still waiting

Sunshine, 18°, light N.

Another quiet day and a walk out to Lollingdon, I know it is still a bit early but still waiting for some summer migrants to appear.

First time for a while, no "winter thrushes" seen today.  

A Raven flew south over the hill but very little else around!

Alan reported 2 Great Crested Grebe along the river (first of the year) this afternoon but appeared to be just passing thru.

Mammals: Brown Hare and Roe Deer.

Butterflies: Brimstone, Peacock and Red Admiral.