Linacre - 16th March 2024

 This morning I had a quick walk around Linacre, to see if I could find my first spring migrants. I was in luck, with my first singing Chiffchaffs (4 birds in total) This was also my 131rd species of the year. Species 129, Lesser Redpoll, was seen in  the garden on 2nd March, and 130, Little Owl, was seen in Holmesfield.

Whilst at Linacre, I also spotted the Mute Swan, 6Y24, present now for  nearly a month, and enjoying some seed on the middle reservoir. 

6Y24

I didn't do a full circuit this morning, so I didn't get a full count of birds seen, but 1 Cormorant was noteworthy, as were 3 Great-spotted Woodpeckers chasing, calling and drumming and 1 Common Buzzard, along with several birds in good voice: Blue and Great Tit, Wren, Nuthatch, Robin, Song Thrush and Dunnock.

Rufford Gulls - 9th March 2024

 At this time of the year, I'm never sure when I'll see the last of the wintering Black-headed Gulls at Rufford. Last Saturday I popped across and found about 80 still present, including many looking very smart, with their breeding plumage brown (not black!) hoods.

The first bird I saw, was 215C, and this bird was certainly looking smart. Last year, my last sighting of this bird was on 12th March, so this may be my last sighting until after the breeding season. We've not had any sightings at a breeding site yet. This year perhaps?

215C

Other ringed gulls were: 258A (34th re-sighting), 289A (6th re-sighting, and my first since February 2022!), 202C (13th re-sighting), 207C (15th re-sighting), 258C (8th re-sighting), 270C (4th re-sighting), 273C (6th re-sighting) and 298C (ringed on 4th February 2024, as a 5, i.e. born in 2023, and the first re-sighting since).

298C

Other birds seen were: 21 Goosander (16 female and 5 male), 1 male Pochard, 2 Mute Swan (Broken Beak and a female), 13 Greylag Geese, 5 Canada Geese, 37 Lesser Black-backed Gull and 2 Common Gull.

Linacre WeBS - 9th March 2024

Ringing was cancelled yesterday morning, due to windy and rainy conditions, so instead, I popped down to Linacre to carry out this month's WeBS count.

The morning started well, when the female Mute Swan, 6Y24, was re-found, back on the middle reservoir. She seems to have settled in well, and came readily to seed, even pecking at the surrounding Mallards, to make sure she got her fair share!

Mute Swan

I carried on around all three reservoirs, and, despite the weather, there was an almost spring-like feel to the morning, with 2 pairs of Great-crested Grebes on site, both displaying. Other birds seen were: Mallard (69), Moorhen (10), Coot (7), Tufted Duck (17), Black-headed Gull (32) and Mandarin Duck (8). 

Black-headed Gull

Lots of the woodland species were singing, and I also spotted my first drumming Great-spotted Woodpeckers (2) of the year, my first Linacre Jay record, and a super Common Buzzard perched on the fence by the main entrance.

The big highlight of the morning, however, came just as I was leaving. I was walking along the middle reservoir, when I heard the sound of calling Whooper Swans. Looking up, an amazing 50 birds appeared, flying in low over my head! At first they looked like they might land, but instead they gained height and carried on along the valley. A few minutes later, however, 7 birds re-appeared and landed on the middle reservoir - fantastic!!!! This is my first record, actually on the reservoirs, and not just flying over, since 2016!

Whooper Swans

Linacre - 2nd March 2024

 Yesterday saw me down at Linacre for my first visit of March. It was a chilly 3 degrees, with a mixture of rain and sleet, but the sight of the Mute Swan 6Y24, first found last week, warmed me up!!

The Mute Swan had moved from the middle reservoir, down on to the bottom reservoir, and, when I arrived, was having a lovely preen, showing off her darvic ring beautifully.

Mute Swan

A little later on, with the help of some more seed, she came up to the dam wall, where I grabbed a photo of her metal ring,W52824. Checking on the BTO website showed me that she was a second year bird, as thought,, having been ringed, as a juvenile, on 14th August 2023. Hopefully, she'll find Linacre to her liking, and hang around for a while.

Other birds seen were: Tufted Duck (21), Mallard (83), Mandarin Duck (20), Coot (7), Moorhen (11), Great-crested Grebe (2 - a pair on the middle reservoir), Little Grebe (1), Black-headed Gull (27), Lesser Black-backed Gull (1 - the first record of 2024), Canada Goose (2 flew along the valley calling), Kingfisher (1 on the middle reservoir), c.50 Jackdaws, 1 Magpie, 2 singing Song Thrushes and singing Dunnock, Wren, Robin, Blue, Coal and Great Tits.