Linacre Nestboxes - a first visit

Over the weekend, and yesterday, I paid my first visit of 2017 to monitor the nestboxes at Linacre. I had a feeling they'd be further on than last year, as I'd seen 1 Blue Tit entering a box last weekend. As it turned out, I found a total of 29 boxes with nests in them ranging from N1 to NL, and even 1 with an egg!! The egg is particularly early, with the first one in 2016 not recorded until 5th May!

Nest with an egg (possibly Blue Tit)

On Sunday I checked 4 of the 5 "owl" boxes that I have up around the site. The Little Owl box was empty, as were 3 of the other boxes. The remaining box contained.... a Grey Squirrel nest complete with 2 young squirrels. Last year, two of the owl boxes were used by Mandarin Ducks, but eggs weren't laid until later in the month, so I'll pop back in a couple of weeks to see if anything's happened. All the results will be sent in to the BTO's Nest Record Scheme.

After checking the boxes I walked around the site to carry out this month's WeBS walk. Numbers were quite low, but the following were spotted: Mallard (27), Tufted Duck (27), Coot (7 - including the first nest of 2017 on the top reservoir), Moorhen (3), Mandarin (11), Cormorant (3; 2 adults, including one with a ring, and an immature bird), Great-crested Grebe (3), Mandarin Duck (11) and Grey Wagtail (1).

Mandarin Duck

Other birds seen included a Mistle Thrush carrying food to an unseen nest, 3 Sand Martins, 1 Swallow (first Linacre records of 2017), a minimum of 3 singing Willow Warblers, 5 singing Blackcaps and 4 singing Chiffchaffs. Siskins and Lesser Redpoll were also heard.

It was quite sunny yesterday morning, so there were a few insects flying around, including a single Peacock, several Droneflies (Eristalsis sp), and, best of all, a potential new species; Early Mining Bee.

Early Mining Bee??

Year List update:

122 - Swallow

Welcome Back EXP662

EXP662 is the ring number of a Chiffchaff that was ringed as a juvenile bird at Linacre on 16th July 2016 (see blog post here). This morning I was out ringing at Linacre with 3 other members of the Sorby Breck Ringing Group, when we re trapped said bird. Where it's been in between we don't know, but most recoveries of British-ringed birds show this species moving south into southern Europe and North west Africa, so this the was likely destination for "our" bird. Hopefully, it'll hang around and breed here. Along with this bird, we also ringed another 4 Chiffchaffs (all new).

Chiffchaff

Also caught this morning were (new/retrap): Blackcap (1/0), Dunnock (1/0), Coal Tit (1/1), Blue Tit (1/2), Magpie (1/0), Nuthatch (1/0).

In between net rounds we also saw: Brown Hare (2), 1 Peacock and 1 Small Tortoiseshell (first Linacre records of 2017 for all 3 species), a Dronefly (Eristalsis sp), a Harlequin Ladybird, Mandarin Duck (2 flew over), Sparrowhawk ( 1 female over), Woodpigeon, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow,  dozens of Cowslips and a single Red Campion flower.

Peacock

Small Tortoiseshell

Harlequin Ladybird on Gorse

Linacre WeBS Walk - 11th and 12th June 2011

This month's WeBS walk results are a combination of  two walks, the first by Mandy and Vicky on Saturday and the second by me on Sunday 12th. Waterbird numbers were about right for this time of year, but there was a lovely surprise was a new breeding species for Linacre - Pied Wagtail. 2 juvenile birds were found being fed by an adult on the middle reservoir. Until now we have only recorded recorded Pied Wagtail during the winter months, so this record is really good!

Juvenile Pied Wagtail

As well as this we also confirmed breeding for Grey Wagtail again with a family party and two broods of Mandarin Duck were also present. A Common Buzzard was seen flying low over the bottom car park, being mobbed by 2 Crows and a male Bullfinch was also seen in this area. Mandy found an adult Spotted Flycatcher on Saturday, our first of the year. Brilliant sighting!!

Female Mandarin with 7 ducklings

This month's results are: Mallard 44, including 5 broods of 3,7,5,5 and 6, Mandarin Duck 14, including 2 broods of 4 and 7, Moorhen 3, including a pair trying to build a nest, Coot 8, Pied Wagtail (3), Grey Wagtail (4, 1 adult and 3 juveniles), the hybrid Canada Goose and Little Grebe 3, 1 adult and 2 juveniles).

Little Grebe and 1 of 2 chicks

As well as the birds I also spotted my first Small Tortoiseshell and Meadow Brown butterflies of the year, as well as several bumblebee species and a Drone Fly!

Small Tortoiseshell

Drone Fly