Starling Nest 2024

 Starlings have returned to the nestbox on the side of the house again this year. As in previous years, I have begun monitoring the success of this nest for the BTO's Nest Record Scheme, and will ring the chicks (under licence) when they're big enough.

The first evidence of a nest this year was on 29th March. The adults began incubating, and, on 23rd April, four chicks were were hatched. This is a photo from today, and, as you can see, they're thriving...despite the cold and wet conditions! The weather is set to improve this week, so fingers crossed they all survive. I'm sure the mealworms that I'm providing, will help a little.

Starling chicks

Linacre Nestboxes - 27th April 2024

 Yesterday, I had my first visit of the year to check on the nestboxes at Linacre. The initial few boxes didn't bode well, but, by the end of the session, I had 20 boxes with eggs in them. As always, the boxes were checked under licence, and the results will be added to the BTO's Nest Record Scheme. There are still a few boxes to check, so hopefully, there will be a few more to add to the list.

All of yesterday's boxes contained tit nests, including only my second Coal Tit nest. The highest count of eggs was 13 in one clutch! Unfortunately, there weren't any Pied Flycatchers around at all. I'll keep checking, and hopefully, there will be some nests this year.

After checking the boxes, I walked around the rest of the site, recording my first Common Sandpiper (162) of the year. 

Common Sandpiper

There were also approximately 15 Swallows, 1 House Martin and 1 Sand Martin, flying around the top reservoir. The ringed Grey Wagtail was still present, singing on the top reservoir, and was joined by a female bird. Other birds seen were: 1 Grey Heron, 21 Mallard, 7 Mandarin Ducks, 1 Canada Goose, 7 Coots (1 nest on the top reservoir), 4 Moorhens, 3 Great-crested Grebes,  24 Tufted Ducks, 3 Chiffchaffs, 1 Blackcap, 2 Song Thrushes and a calling Great-spotted Woodpecker. Unfortunately, the female Mute Swan, 6Y24, appears to have left the site.

Swallow

In the afternoon, I was down at The Avenue Washlands, and spotted my first Swift (163) of the year.

Weekend Birding

 This weekend, Jayne and I went up to RSPB Bempton Cliffs, Teesdale and RSPB Fairburn Ings. Over the two days, we managed to spot 10 new species for the "year list".

The first new species was Gannet (152), followed closely by Kittiwake (153), Puffin (154) and Razorbill (155). Back at the Visitors' Centre, we added Tree Sparrow (156).

Tree Sparrow

Afterwards, we drove up to Teesdale, to visit Langdon Beck and the Black Grouse (157). We had two visits, one on Saturday, and one again on Sunday morning. Black Grouse were seen on both occasions, with 27 displaying (lekking) males on the Sunday visit- a very impressive sight and sound. One bird, presumably a young male, by the look of the plumage, wandered up from the lek, right to the car, from where this photo was taken!

Black Grouse

A short while later, this female bird was spotted, posing beautifully. Again, this photo was taken from the car, at a distance of about 15m.

Black Grouse (female)

Other birds seen in the area were: drumming Snipe (158), a male Wheatear (159), Curlew, Lapwing and lots of Meadow Pipits. Driving back to our accommodation, we dropped very lucky, and saw two hunting Barn Owls, and a Red Squirrel!

Barn Owl

Our last stop was RSPB Fairburn Ings, where we added Spoonbill (160) and Common Tern (161).

Bonaparte's Gull and Red-breasted Goose - 2 Lifers!

 Its not often that a Lesser Yellowlegs has to play second fiddle on a day's birdwatching in Great Britain, but, on today's trip to RSPB Frampton Marsh, that is exactly what happened!!!

Lesser Yellowlegs (we went back later!!)

Jayne and I decided to drive across, after seeing that an adult, summer-plumaged Bonaparte's Gull (1st Lifer of 2024 and my 144th species of the year) had made a reappearance on the Reedbed Marsh, after being found earlier in the week. We walked quickly past the Yellowlegs (!) and saw the gull more or less straight away, sitting on the water, about 20m away, with several Black-headed Gulls. The bird remained on view all day, and we managed to get a few shots.

Bonaparte's Gull (rear bird), with Black-headed Gull

Within the same view, we also spotted 2 Little Gulls - an adult and a 1st winter/2nd calendar year bird (145). There were dozens (hundreds?) of Avocets around the reserve, along with several Ruff (146), breeding Lapwing, Redshank and 2-300 Black-tailed Godwits. Unfortunately, we dipped the Black-winged Stilt (a female, 2nd year bird), so we'll have to go back again for that one!!

Black-tailed Godwit

Walking up to the sea wall, we heard the first Sedge Warblers (143) of the year, and caught a brief sight of a fly-over Yellow Wagtail (147). Two Garganeys (male and female - 148) were seen (fast asleep), along with 2 Little Ringed Plovers (149) and  a stunning, male White Wagtail (150). Also seen were Little Egret and two Great (White) Egret.

The last new bird of the day was a Red-breasted Goose (151 and lifer number 2), that was feeding with the Brent Geese. Although this is a species of more often seen as an escapee in Britain (as was the bird we saw earlier in the year at Clumber Park), this bird "felt" wilder, and, as it was associating with the Brent Geese, stands more of a chance of being accepted as such. It gave good telescope views, and I managed a half decent record shot. 

Red-breasted Goose (1st winter?)

My 142nd bird of the year, Red Grouse, was seen yesterday, on Stanage Moor, Derbyshire.

RSPB St Aidan's - 8th April 2024

 Jayne and I had a couple of hours at RSPB St Aidan's. near Leeds, on Monday. We had a walked around the reedbed trail, and added three new species to the "Year List": Cetti's Warbler (139), Black-necked Grebe (140) and booming Bitterns (141). 

Black-necked Grebe

We also had fantastic views of this very smart, accommodating adult, breeding plumaged Mediterranean Gull.

Mediterranean Gull

Year List Update - 7th April 2024

 It's been a few weeks since I updated the "Year List", and, since then, I've added a few new species.

First was the Ring-necked Parakeet (132). This was first seen in Didsbury Park, Manchester, when 2 were spotted. The next species, Blackcap (133), was added last Sunday, when 1 was ringed at The Avenue in Chesterfield. Bird number 134, Willow Warbler, was heard at Linacre, while 135 was a Barnacle Goose, a feral bird seen in London on Thursday. The final three species seen at Linacre this week, were: Swallow (136 - first seen on 6th, and then c.10 seen today), House Martin (137 - c.20 feeding over the middle reservoir, in rain, today) and Sand Martin (138 - c.5/6 feeding with the Swallows and House Martins today).

Linacre WeBS - 6th April 2024

 The second visit to Linacre this week was this morning, when I carried out this month's WeBS count. It was 13 degrees when I arrived at 7am, and this had risen to 17 degrees (!) by the time I left at 9am.

In the two hours that I was there the following waterbirds were seen: Mallard (47), Tufted Duck (17), Mandarin (12), Canada Geese (2), Mute Swan (1 - 6Y24), Moorhen (10), Coot (4), Cormorant (1), Great-crested Grebe (6; 3 pairs, 1 on each reservoir) and Lesser Black-backed Gull (4).

Mandarin Duck

Lots of birds were singing in the sunshine, including 8 Chiffchaffs, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Blackcap 1 Skylark and 3 Song Thrushes. Other birds seen were: Sparrowhawk (1 high over the woodlands), 3 Stock Doves and my first Swallow of the year (hurrah!).

Linacre 2nd April 2024

 This week, I've managed a couple of trips to Linacre, recording my first butterflies of 2024 and a few more summer migrants.

Tuesday's visit (2nd) was warm and sunny (13 degrees), so I managed to see a couple of Peacock butterflies and 2 Dark-edged Bee Flies.

Peacock

Bee Fly

Other insects seen were: Common Carder and Buff-tailed Bumblebees and several  Eristalis hoverflies.

Birds seen were: 6 singing Chiffchaffs, 1 Willow Warbler (1st of the year), 1 Blackcap (first of the year), 1 Mute Swan (6Y24), 2 Greylag Geese (1st record of 2024), 6 Canada Geese (3 pairs), singing Skylark, Green Woodpecker (heard), Goosander (1 redhead),  1 Mistle Thrush, 1 Buzzard and a singing Grey Wagtail (wearing a ring).

Grey Wagtail

Linacre 24th and 29th March 2024

 I had a couple of visits to Linacre in the last few days of March. It was quite quiet on both occasions, but I did manage to see a few summer insects and check up on the Mute Swan.

Waterfowl numbers have fallen off in March (as usual), as birds set up their breeding pairs/territories. Having said this, there have been a few still about, with double figure counts still for Mallard (43 on 23rd) and Tufted Duck (18 on 23rd). As mentioned above, the female Mute Swan (6Y24) was present on both visits. 1 Little Grebe was heard on 23rd, so hopefully breeding will take place again this year. Great-crested Grebe numbers are also up to 5, with birds present on all three reservoirs. Surprisingly, a late female Goosander (29th) and 1 Black-headed Gull (24th) were also noted. Three Grey Wagtails were also seen on 29th. 2 Cormorants were seen on 24th and 1 was still present on 29th.

Mandarin Ducks

The woods held the usual suspects, but a nice addition was my first record of Stock Dove for 2024 (3 near the Rangers' Base), along with up to 8 singing Chiffchaffs, and, best of all, a Red Kite, low over the woods, being mobbed by two Jackdaws on the 29th. This is my first record for a couple of years, although there were a few sightings by other people last year.

Insect wise, it's still quiet, although I reported my first hoverfly species of the year, Eristalis sp, on 24th, along with a Buff-tailed Bumblebee. It was warmer on 29th (14 degrees), so there were more insects about, including Common Carder Bees, Tree Bumblebee, an unidentified Mining Bee sp and a beautiful (male, I think) Tawny Mining Bee.

Tawny Mining Bee