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 Farm Walk - 18th June 2011

This morning I carried out my third and final walk as part of  the RSPB's Volunteer and Farmer Alliance programme at the farm in Blyth, Nottinghamshire.The weather stayed dry, the poppies looked amazing and several new species were added to the list including evidence of breeding for the BTO's Bird Atlas.

Poppies

First up this morning were singing Chaffinch and a family party of Blue Tit. Walking around through the waist-high grass I also found several Whitethroat, which were alarm calling and probably had nests nearby. A pair of Reed Buntings was a new bird for this site, but the highlight of the morning,was the 3 Yellow Wagtails, which included one male complete with a beak full of food -  evidence of breeding!! Here's an awful shot of him perched up on a tree.

Yellow Wagtail

The Skylarks were still in good voice and on the way back at the end of the walk I was lucky enough to come across this beautiful young Roe Deer who had got split up from his mum and brother/sister, who were standing some distance away in the woods. I stood still on the path and he/she walked straight towards me until he was just 5m away!! I managed to get a decent shot before he realised I wasn't mum and hopped off into the woods!

Roe Deer