Linacre Nestboxes - 30th April 2023

 I was down at Linacre this morning with 2 other members of the ringing group, carrying out a first check of the nestboxes. In total we found  28 active nests, all of which were Blue or Great Tits. In addition, a singing Pied Flycatcher was still in the same area as last week.

Other wildlife seen included 5 adult Greylag Geese and an adult Canada Goose on the top reservoir, the first singing Skylark of the year, a singing Stock Dove (first Linacre record and a "year tick"), 1 Common Buzzard and a male Roe Deer (my first ever Linacre record!!).

Roe Deer

The first Mallard ducklings of the year were also seen today, 2 broods of 5 and 4.

Mallard ducklings (3 of 4)

RSPB Frampton Marsh - 29th April 2023

 Jayne and I had a drive over to RSPB Frampton Marsh yesterday for our annual visit. As always, the reserve was fantastic, and we had a great few hours there, enjoying the weather (warm and sunny) and adding 11 species to this year's list.

The first new species was Ruff (142), followed quickly by Avocet (143), seen on some newly-created wetlands by the car park.

Ruff

Avocet

Sedge (144) and Reed Warbler (145) were added next, along with 3 Spoonbills (146), that we saw from the 360 Hide. Walking down to the reservoir area added singing Lesser Whitethroat (147) and Whitethroat (148), as well as a single male Brimstone, one Holly Blue and 6+ Peacock butterflies.

Walking back down to the Visitors' Centre we spotted 6 Yellow Wagtails (149, including 2 bright yellow males) and a Whimbrel (150).

Spot the Yellow Wagtail!

The final two "ticks" were Barnacle Goose (151) and Common Tern (2 birds seen, 152). Other species seen around the reserve included: Mute Swan, Mallard, Gadwall, Wigeon, Teal, Canada and Brent Goose (Dark-bellied and 2 Pale-bellied), Greylag Goose (with goslings), Shelduck, Shoveler, Spotted Redshank ( 2 breeding plumaged birds), Little Ringed Plover, Redshank, Black-tailed Godwit, Goldfinch, Chaffinch and Cetti's Warbler (heard).

Greylag Goose

After our visit here, we drove across to the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust's Willow Tree Fen reserve where we had fantastic views of a Common Crane (153) and a hunting Hobby (154), along with a Brown Hare, 2 Muntjac Deer and a Fallow Deer. At one point, we had Red Kite, Marsh Harrier, Buzzard and Hobby in the binoculars at the same time!

Common Crane

April WeBS and Pied Flycatcher - 23rd April 2023

 Last Sunday I popped down to Linacre to carry out this month's WeBS count. I walked down through the woods and heard and saw my first Pied Flycatcher (141) of the year. A single, male bird was singing around the middle reservoir. Fingers crossed for a successful breeding season. Other warblers heard singing were: 6 Chiffchaffs and 4 Blackcaps.

Other birds seen during the visit were: 44 Mallards, 33 Tufted Ducks, 4 Mandarin Ducks (all male), 11 Moorhens (including 1 incubating bird), 14 Coots, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Little Grebe (heard), 6 Great-crested Grebes (1 pair on a nest and 2 other pairs), 1 Cormorant and 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull.

RSPB Bempton Cliffs and RSPB Old Moor - 22nd April 2023

 Jayne and I had a trip over to RSPB Bempton Cliffs to catch up with a few "year ticks" today. First up was Tree Sparrow (133), with several birds around the main centre, busy setting up their territories.

Tree Sparrow

After a quick walk down to the cliffs we soon added the other new birds: Puffin (134) (thanks for the spot, Jayne!), Guillemot (135), Razorbill (136), Kittiwake (137) and Gannet (138).

Puffin and Guillemot

Razorbill

When we had finished at Bempton, we checked Bird Guides, and noticed that the male Ring-necked Duck (139) had been reported at RSPB Old Moor. We popped in on the way back, and got great, but distant, views from Wath Ings Hide. 

Ring-necked Duck

Other birds seen were: Shelduck (140), Gadwall, Mallard, Canada Goose, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Starling, Green Woodpecker and Cetti's Warbler.

Year List update - 15th April 2023

 Over the last week or so I've had a few trips to catch up with a few more "year ticks", taking this year's total to 132.

The first trip was to the moors just above Sheffield to try and catch up with Ring Ouzel and Wheatear. Unfortunately, my first visit blew a blank, as there was a very heavy mist/fog on arrival! I did, however, manage to see several Red Grouse (126).

The next trip, to Ossett in West Yorkshire was a proper "twitch" to see 2 Black-crowned Night Herons (128) that had appeared on the river there. 1 was seen, initially perched up in a tree, but then feeding- very nice! A Kingfisher (127) was also seen, along with half a dozen Sand Martins, a single Swallow, and my first Orange Tip butterflies of the year (2 males).

Black-crowned Night Heron

My next "tick" was a single House Martin (129) that I saw at Linacre yesterday morning. This morning, Jayne and I had a return visit to the moorlands, where, despite some more mist (!), we managed to spot a hunting Short-eared Owl (130), a couple of Ring Ouzels ( male and female - 131) and a couple of Wheatears (male and female - 132).

Wheatear

Linacre - 14th April 2023

I was down at Linacre this morning from 7am - 11am taking a first check of the year nestboxes (thanks to Antony and Pete for your support!)

As always, I was a little early, with just one box showing any sign of nesting activity; Owl Box 2, which had 6 cold, uncovered eggs (most likely Mandarin Duck). It did, however, give me time to put back on lids that had fallen off and have a walk around the reservoirs.

Whilst walking around, there were frequent drizzly showers, and I was lucky enough to see a flock of c.30 Swallows, 3 Sand Martins and 1 House Martin, feeding over the top reservoir. These were my first Linacre records of 2023. Other species seen and/or heard were: 6 Chiffchaffs, 2 Willow Warblers, 3 Blackcaps, 1 Raven, 1 Tawny Owl, 4 Great-crested Grebes, 2 Little Grebes, my first Moorhen nest (bird sitting), 1 singing Mistle Thrush, 2 singing Song Thrushes, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, a pair of Greylag Geese that flew east along the valley, and 3 Canada Geese (1 pair and another individual).

If all this birdlife wasn't enough, I also found 3 roosting Brown Long-eared Bats in one of the boxes and spotted 2 Brown Hares and a very impressive adult Grass Snake. (thanks Antony and Pete)!!!

Brown Long-eared Bats

Grass Snake

Linacre Insects - 8th April 2023

 The sun was out again yesterday, and the temperature rose to 15 degrees, so I popped down to Linacre for a few hours looking for the first butterflies of the year. Whilst on site (1.30 - 3.30pm) I managed to see 4 species.

The first species of the year was Comma, with 6 seen. The second species was Peacock, with again 6 seen. I got a brief fly by from a "white butterfly", which may have been an Orange Tip. The final species seen was Small Tortoiseshell, with 2 seen. 

Comma

Peacock

In addition, I also had a very brief view of a possible Orange Underwing moth. Unfortunately, I only saw it once, and can't confirm the identification, but it was in exactly the same spot as my previous sighting in 2021 (see here).Dark-edged Bee-flies were also seen.

Linacre - 6th April 2023

 After a short drive to a site in Nottinghamshire to see breeding plumaged Black-necked Grebes (124) (7 birds seen) and a single Little Ringed Plover (125), I popped into Linacre for my first visit in a few weeks.

I arrived at Linacre at 10.30am, and spent until 1.00pm on site, walking around all three reservoirs. The highlight of the visit was the 12 Chiffchaffs, 1 Blackcap and 1 Willow Warbler, that were singing. I also found my first Great-crested Grebe nest of the year (1 bird sitting, along with 2 other birds), a pair of Little Grebes, 1 Greylag Goose (my first Linacre record of 2023), 41 Mallards, 44 Tufted Ducks, 12 Coots, 8 Moorhens, 5 Mandarin Ducks, 1 Grey Wagtail, a female Goosander (late record) and 12 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (all feeding in the field by the main entrance - my highest ever count!).

Whilst on site, the sun came out and I managed to spot a few insects - 7 Dark-edged Bee-flies, Tree Bumblebees, Common Carder Bees, Buff-tailed Bumblebees and a Mining Bee sp.

Dark-edged Bee-fly

The sun also brought out the flowers, with Wood Anenome, Lesser Celandine, Coltsfoot, Dandelion and daisies all in bloom.

RSPB Ham Wall - 4th April 2023

 Yesterday, Jayne and I spent a few hours at RSPB Ham Wall in Somerset. It's a reserve we've wanted to visit for a while, and we were not disappointed!!

Reedbeds and Glastonbury Tor

As soon as we arrived, we were surrounded by bird song, including Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Willow Warbler and, of course, Cetti's Warbler. We set off and walked to Viewing Point 1, where we heard Water Rail squealing, and the first "booming" Bittern. Other birds seen from this area were: Shoveler, Mallard, Teal, Wigeon, Pochard, Gadwall, Pintail (1 male and 1 female), Glossy Ibis, Great White and Little Egret, Snipe, Spotted Redshank, Black-tailed Godwit (c.20), Marsh Harrier, Coot and Moorhen!

Moving on to Avalon Hide, we added a stunning male Garganey and a flock of c.30 Sand Martins to the list. What a site!

Brimstone

Year List update - 111) Willow Warbler 112) Pintail 113) Black-tailed Godwit 114) Glossy Ibis 115) Great White Egret 116) Snipe 117) Spotted Redshank 118) Marsh Harrier 119) Water Rail (heard) 120) Bittern (heard), 121) Blackcap 122) Garganey and 123) Sand Martin.

Salisbury Plain - Great Bustard - 3rd April 2023

 The main reason Jayne and I travelled down to Wiltshire was to go on a "Bustard Safari" with The Great Bustard Project. We had 2 hours out on Salisbury Plain and managed to see a fantastic drove of 25 birds!! We had great 'scope views at the start of the trip, and then, right at the end, a male flew across the road we were on, and landed approximately 50m away from our Land Rover, allowing some lovely views and photographs.

Great Bustard!!

Whilst on the "safari", we also saw Corn Buntings (including a flock of 13 in one tree!!), Meadow Pipit, Buzzard, Red Kite and Brown Hare.

Corn Bunting (X20?)

Year List Update - 108) Corn Bunting, 109) Meadow Pipit 110) Great Bustard

RSPB Winterbourne Downs - 2nd April 2023

 Jayne and I have had a few days down in Wiltshire, visiting a few new sites and  seeing some nice birds.

Our first new site was RSPB Winterbourne Downs, which is a great spot to see Stone Curlews. We popped across on Sunday, and managed to see a couple of birds. Also on site were; Lapwing, Linnet, Green Woodpecker, Red Kite, Buzzard and Brown Hares. Whilst there, we also spotted a Comma butterfly, and a "Flifer" - a new species of fly (thanks for the new word Jayne!), Dotted Bee Fly.

Dotted Bee Fly

Year List Update: 105 - Swallow, 106 - Green Woodpecker and 107 - Stone Curlew.