Year List Update - 21st April 2025

 This last week, I've been out and about a few times, and have managed to add 6 more species to this year's Year List.

The first bird, Garganey (149), was a male bird that was seen at Catcliffe Flash, in Sheffield on Tuesday. It was asleep the entire time I was there (!), and quite distant, but I managed to get a record shot, along with a couple of Tufted Duck, a Gadwall and some Teal.

Garganey

The other 5 species, were added today in Lincolnshire. The first one, Common Crane (150), was added in a field about 1 mile away from the Willow Tree Fen reserve. In total, there were 18 birds all feeding in one field. Quite a sight, and not one I was expecting to see!!

3 of the 18 birds present

The last 4 new species seen were Sedge Warbler (151), Reed Warbler (152), Whitethroat (153) and Yellow Wagtail (154), which were all added at RSPB Frampton Marsh.

Yellow Wagtail (with friend)

Whilst there, Jayne and I also spotted a good number of other species, including: Canada, Greylag and Brent Goose, Mute Swan, Moorhen, Ruff, Redshank, Little Ringed Plover, Black-tailed Godwit, Snipe, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Goldfinch, Linnet, Pintail, Shoveler, Mallard, Teal, and, best of all, a self-found male Green-winged Teal!!!

Green-winged Teal (asleep)

Linacre - 19th April 2025

 I had a couple of hours at Linacre this afternoon. It was 15 degrees, but overcast and a few sunny spells. Despite this, I managed to record a few hoverflies (including a new species for Linacre!!) and a very late record of 4 breeding-plumaged Black-headed Gulls! 

The new hoverfly was a tiny thing (!) called Meliscaeva cinctella. It is a widespread species, throughout the UK, but, this is my first record for Linacre, so pretty chuffed to have found it. Here it is. to other hoverflies were also photographed, both identified to Syrphus sp.

Meliscaeva cinctella

Birdwise, it was quite quiet, but I did record singing Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Chaffinch, Woodpigeon, Stock Dove, Wren and Robin. On the water there were: 6 Mandarins (5males and 1 female), Mallard (c.20), Tufted Duck (c.15), Coot (first 2 nests of the year), Moorhen (2), Lesser Black-backed Gull (15; 9 over and 6 on the water), Herring Gull (3 adults) and 3 Cormorants (1 adult and 2 immatures).

Cormorant (adult)

Cormorant (1st summer?)

Linacre Nestboxes 2025- A First Visit

 This week, I've been up to Linacre a couple of times to have a first look at the nestboxes. 

In total, 13 nests were found, with the first eggs, all tits, being found on 15th. They included two clutches of 12 eggs!! Several other clutches were still being laid. The owl boxes were also checked, but, unfortunately, this year, none were in use by owls. 2 of the boxes showed signs of use by Mandarin Ducks.

All nests will be recorded, and submitted to the BTO's Nest Record Scheme.

Ring Ouzels

This morning, Jayne and I went out into the Peaks to have a look for Ring Ouzel (148). After a bit of a false start, due to heavy mist, we managed to spot a couple of birds (1 male and 1 female).

The birds were first seen flitting around rocks and feeding on the short turf, just by the path, at the top end of Burbage Valley. We had decent views. despite the mist (!) and headed back to the car. Just as we'd finished putting everything away, we looked up and spotted the (presumably) same two birds feeding on the ground in the car park!! Luckily, I was bale to get the camera, and, as we sat in the car, the male bird came to within 5m and began feeding. The female stayed a little further back, in the heather. All photos taken from the mobile hide!

Ring Ouzel

Whilst watching the Ouzels, a large bird of prey flew in and landed in the heather. This flushed to Ouzels, and I managed to grab a few photos (through the mist!), of what appears to be a female Sparrowhawk. 

Sparrowhawk

Several Meadow Pipits and Red Grouse were also heard. 

New Forest, Poole Harbour and RSPB Arne

 After our visit to Salisbury, Jayne and I spent the next four days in The New Forest and Poole Harbour/Swanage area. Whilst there we added 9 more species to the Year List.

Our first new bird was House Martin (139), which was seen around our accommodation in Fordingbridge. Firecrest (140) was added during a walk in Bolderwood Deer Sanctuary in The New Forest, as was Willow Warbler (141).

Firecrest

On 9th, we had a 3 hour cruise with Birds of Poole Harbour, where we managed to see 3 Spoonbills (142), 2 distant Ospreys (143), and, best of all, amazing views of a female White-tailed Eagle (144).

WT Eagle G466

The White-tailed Eagle that we saw was a female, G466, that was translocated from The Isle of Skye into the Isle of Wight in 2020 by the Roy Dennis Foundation. She has been settled in this area, with a male bird, G463. See details here. Whilst on the trip, we also saw Black-headed, Great Black-backed, Herring and Mediterranean Gulls, Black-tailed Godwits, a Spotted Redshank, Redshank, Great-crested Grebes, Curlew, Lapwing, Canada, Greylag and an Egyptian Goose, 3 Little Ringed Plovers (145) and Sandwich Terns (146). 

Our last addition to the Year List was Dartford Warbler (147) that was seen on Hyde's Heath at RSPB Arne. Unfortunately, no photos, as the two birds we saw, decided to keep low down in the gorse, to avoid the attention of a pair of Stonechats!

Great Bustards, Corn Buntings and Stone Curlews

A couple of years ago, Jayne and I went down to Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, to visit the Great Bustard Project, where we had great views of the birds. Last Monday (7th), we went down again.

As before, we took part in a guided visit, travelling around the site in a Land Rover. We visited the group's hide, where we had fantastic views of a single male bird, displaying to approximately 7 females. This was something we hadn't seen on our previous visit. Over the course of the next two hours, we saw another 2 displaying males and approximately 10 female birds. Great Bustard (137).

Great Bustard (male and female)

Whilst there, we also saw a single Corn Bunting (136), which was surprising, as we'd seen a dozen or so on our last trip. Other wildlife seen were: Red Deer, Brown Hare, Red Kite (including 5 together), Stonechat, Yellowhammer and Buzzard.

Afterwards, we travelled to RSPB Winterbourne Down, where we saw a single Stone Curlew (138), Skylark, Brimstone and Peacock butterflies and a couple of Dotted Beeflies.

Brimstone

Linacre 5th April 2025

 We've had a couple of weeks of warm, sunny weather, so, having a free afternoon, I popped down to Linacre to see if I could see the first butterflies of 2025. In three hours, and temperatures of 12 degrees, I spotted 16 butterflies of 5 species.

The first butterflies seen were Peacocks, and, in total, I recorded a minimum of 9 around the site. The next commonest species was Orange Tip, with 5 males and 2 females seen. Also seen were: Comma (1), Large White (1) and Green-veined White (1).

Peacock

Other insects seen were: Tawny Mining Bee (1 male), another Mining Bee sp (possibly Clarkson's), Broad-bordered Beefly (20+), Eristalis sp (hoverfly) and 4 species of Bumblebee; Common Carder, White-tailed, Buff-tailed and Red-tailed.

Flowers were also out in good numbers: Lesser Celandine, Bluebell, Wood Anenome, Coltsfoot, Dandelion, Daisies, Cowslip and Stitchwort. 

Last, but not least, the birds! I had 2 "Year ticks", with Swallow (134) (3 birds over the middle reservoir) and Blackcap (135) ( a minimum of 4 birds singing). Other birds were: Chiffchaff (9 singing), Buzzard (2 over), Sparrowhawk (1 displaying over the middle reservoir), Great-crested Grebe (5 birds; a pair each on the bottom and middle reservoirs, and 1 single bird on the top reservoir), Cormorant (1), Mallard (c.20), Mandarin (6), Tufted Duck (17), Lesser Black-backed Gull (c.30 flew over!) and Greylag Goose (4 birds on the middle reservoir).

Another "year tick" was Dipper (133) that was seen flying over the main road in Dronfield on 4/4!