Sunday March 29 - Morton Bagot

 This post covers two days, Saturday and Sunday. So yesterday morning my moth trap contained just five moths, none of them even new for the year. Having got up early I decided to pay an early morning visit to the patch. In the bright sunshine I thought I should at least photograph something.

The highlights were a new record count of 13 Avocets (11 on the nearest flash and two on the furthest), a distant Peregrine which flew in from the north before turning tail, the drake Shoveler, and a pair of Shelducks which I noticed could only be seen distantly from the road and were invisible on the furthest flash from the usual watchpoints.

The white dots are Avocets (and a LBBGull). Not much of a group photo.

This morning was cloudy and cold, but was far more productive for birds.

Dave joined me as usual, and we quickly established we could see four Red Kites, a pair over Bannams and another pair to the west, another record count for the site. Rather less satisfactorily the Avocets numbers had dropped, although we did eventually tally ten.

But this was to be a day for site ticks. As we approached the Kingfisher Pool Dave said "Did you hear that?" I'd heard nothing, so was surprised to be told he'd thought he'd heard a distant Cetti's. After about 15 minutes of silence, Dave was starting to doubt himself, blaming his woolly hat and maybe a Blackbird. We settled down to count the Avocets, but while drinking his coffee Dave suddenly leapt to his feet and shouted Swallow. Fortunately for me it briefly reappeared and I duly added it to my patch year list. Seconds later, a bona fide Cetti's Warbler blasted its song into our ear. Almost certainly the bird the ringers caught last week, it was nevertheless a patch tick for us both. Trying to see singing Cetti's Warblers is very challenging, and it didn't help that this one didn't sing, or even call, again. Around this time we also witnessed a Kestrel making a successful kill. It emerged from the grass with a Vole in its talons and proceeded to eat it while perched on a tree guard.

Two more patch year ticks were to follow. The first was a Feral Pigeon which flew across the field behind us. It's actually quite hard to get an untainted one here, as racing pigeons sometimes fly over, and occasionally one of the farms releases some from a loft. As far as I know, neither issue applied with this bird.

Finally, and I mean finally, a bird I'd just about given up on this year appeared. A Coot was back on the dragonfly pond where it had nested last year. We used to find them all over the site, but only this one pool (the only one with a bit of reed surrounding it) is suitable. It normally turns up in February, so I was more than pleased to see it.

The hunt for a Wheatear goes on, and this year I've noticed even Meadow Pipits are in short supply. I have no explanation for that.

Friday March 27

 There was nothing wrong with today's plan, it just didn't pay off. The morning dawned grey and drizzly, so I reckoned Earlswood would be the best bet. I was dreaming of Kittiwakes, Little Gulls etc and indeed the former were well represented at the West Midland's larger reservoirs.

I had an inkling of what to expect when an early morning Whatsapp from Joe mentioned a Mandarin and later a Swallow. By the time I got there neither remained, but eventually things did pick up.

Two Sand Martins were the first I'd seen since my very early one three weeks ago, and finally two Swallows appeared, along with at least one more Sand Martin. They were not my earliest Swallows, but I'm always slightly relieved when the first ones make it back from their incredible journey the southern Africa.

Swallow

The Yellow-legged Gull was still present, but otherwise it was just a case of checking out the regulars.

Tufted Ducks

Yellow-legged Gull 5cy (on right)

On Tuesday I went to Morton Bagot. It only gets second billing because I didn't take any photographs. The highlight was a further increase in Avocets to ten birds (eight on the nearest flash and two on the furthest). The Egyptian Geese seemed to have gone, while Teal numbers were down, but the drake Shoveler and the Shelducks were still there.

Before going home on Tuesday, I paid a very quick visit to Lower Bittell, peering at fields of sheep. A Cattle Egret had been seen there on Sunday (along with the wintering Great White Egret). Sadly I only saw the latter.

It looks like being a cold night so I'm not expecting much from the garden moths, but anything interesting turns up I'll add it to this post.

Monday March 23 - Mappleborough Green

 There are two maxims in birding. One is that migrants are punctual, and therefore predictable. The other is almost the exact opposite. A rarity can turn up anywhere....but probably won't. These conflicting sentiments are what drives the patch birder onwards, and his partner to distraction.

This afternoon, after waiting in for someone to come and fix something, I took the first opportunity to test the first of these maxims.

I thought there must be a Little Ringed Plover at Mappleborough Green flash by now. Just half an hour later I was proved right.

The site is perfect for them, as Morton Bagot once was. The only downside was that the light was pretty poor, and not wanting to disturb my subject I settled for a record shot.

The second law of birding also came true. Anything rare might have turned up, but didn't. Instead I counted at least 32 Teal and a Green Sandpiper before returning home for another night staring at the gogglebox.

Birding is better.

Sunday March 22 - Morton Bagot

 It's been quite a remarkable few days at Morton Bagot, and I only wish I'd been there to witness the start of it. You may recall that I squeezed a couple of hours in on Thursday morning and only had time to cover the flash field end of the site. I left feeling pretty chuffed at finding my first Egyptian Goose for the site.

I now wish I'd given it a bit longer and tried the Netherstead end. I say this because the following morning John Sadler was ringing there and pulled a Cetti's Warbler out of his net. The story subsequently related was that the bird had bounced out initially, but later ensnared itself and on release had given a burst of song.

Here's what I could have won

The reason I'm harping on about this bird is that I have yet to see one here. A couple of springs ago Jason W sent me an email listing the birds he had seen at Morton Bagot that day, and included Cetti's Warbler on it. I queried it, and he said he was certain it was one, and he hadn't realised there had never been one at Morton Bagot. I went down to the place he'd indicated, where coincidentally I'd heard a very close Sedge Warbler the day before his report, and heard nothing.

Last November I heard a "mystery warbler" calling which I initially thought was a Cetti's Warbler before getting an attack of doubt and downgrading it to unidentified warbler. I should say that others who have heard my recording are divided and/or non-committal about its identity.

Having only heard about the bird after darkness fell on Friday I paid a dawn visit next day, and heard nothing. I again couldn't do the rest of the site, this time because Lyn and I were visiting a friend in Ross-on-Wye later that morning.

Enter John Chidwick who popped down to the flash field during Saturday afternoon and among the usual Avocets and Shelduck found two  Egyptian Geese, a Shoveler and a drake Gadwall.

So this morning I was playing catch up. There was still no trace of a Cetti's Warbler, but on the positive side, both the pair of Egyptian Geese, and the drake Shoveler were present. The Egyptian Geese were a lot closer than the bird I saw on Thursday.

Egyptian Geese (and a Greylag)

Shoveler

Also present were six Avocets, a Shelduck, 22 Teal, a Green Sandpiper, and three Snipe. Apparently not present was the Gadwall, although there's always a chance it was tucked away out of sight.

Spring was represented by increased numbers of Chiffchaffs, and a singing Blackcap. I also added to my annual butterfly tally when a rather tatty Red Admiral appeared near Netherstead.

The Red Admiral seems to have a chunk of hind wing pecked away

Such are the ups and downs of birding.

Thursday March 19 - Mappleborough Green and Morton Bagot

 Another fine sunny day. My plan was to check out a large field at Middletown in the hope it might be in suitable condition for Golden Plovers (it turned out to have a growing crop in it and was totally unsuitable), and then visit Mappleborough Green Flash again.

At least there were some waders this time, but a Green Sandpiper and a Lapwing was not really what I had in mind. There were still plenty of Teal, but the bright morning sun shining in my eyes no matter where I could view the flash from soon put me off.

So at 10:00 with my plan complete, I reasoned there was time to fit in a shortened visit to Morton Bagot. Thank goodness I did.

All seemed pretty much as normal as I approached the flash field. Avocet numbers had increased to eight, the five Lapwings included a pair which were behaving territorially, the Shelduck pair was still present, and I counted two Green Sandpipers and 30 Teal.

But then, as I scanned across to the furthest flash, I spotted an Egyptian Goose emerging from behind the rushes. Ok I know its just a feral species which I'd already ticked off for the year at Earlswood, but the key issue is that it was the first I had ever seen here in nearly twenty years of watching. That made it special.

Egyptian Goose flanked by Avocet, Lapwing and barely visible Black-headed Gulls

I'm loathe to say with certainty that it was the first for the site because back in pre-blog days, maybe 2008 or 2009 I met a birder who casually mentioned he had seen an Egyptian Goose here "the other day". Unfortunately he didn't submit the record to the county recorder, and I never worked out exactly what date he'd seen it or who he was. So it never got recorded.

As I made my way back to the car I had another bit of luck. Walking across the scrape field I heard a repeated "poop" call, a bit like a Moorhen, but not really. I thought I knew what it was. Water Rail makes that call, as an alternative to the more familiar squeal. I approached the tiny pond choked with bulrushes and got out my mobile phone. The Merlin App, which I am fond of slandering as being not much use, might actually help me for once. The first bird it "heard" was a Skylark (and to be fair there was one singing). With the potential Rail still calling, the app blinked again and announced it as a Water Rail. I got closer and the noise stopped. I was clearly not going to see it.

Finally, with the temperature pushing 19 degrees, butterflies were on the wing. Along with Peacocks and Brimstones, I saw a Comma. The first here of the year.

Comma

Quite a morning.

I'll be putting the trap out tonight, so there should some moth data to come....which is:

41 moths of 5 species. The only new one being Double-striped Pug. It is also quite interesting that this year I'm catching almost as many Small Quakers as Common Quakers. Normally the proportion is around 80% in favour of Common Q.

Double-striped Pug

Tuesday March 17 - Mappleborough Green and Morton Bagot

 A pre-breakfast visit to Mappleborough Green on a largely sunny morning was aimed at boosting my wader list. Unfortunately, although the site still looks a good bet, no waders at all were seen. Instead my highlights were a pair of Shoveler among the Teal, and a drake Tufted Duck on the pond (along with Coot) just beyond the Boot Inn. 

Shovelers barely photographable through the trees masking the site

Tufted Duck going walkabout, watched by a female Mallard in the grass

My post-breakfast visit was to Morton Bagot, where I would have been delighted to see Coot, Tufted Duck, or Shoveler if only they'd fly the required mile from Mappleborough Green.

Instead I was greeted by the usual pair of Red Kites, and the female Stonechat still present since Sunday.

In fact almost all the birds seen had also been seen at the weekend, the only difference being the return of the pair of Shelduck, an increase in Avocets back up to six, and fewer Teal and Lapwings. The latter were showing no signs of defending territories.

The best thing about the visit was that the sun was out, and it felt warmer. As a result I saw my first few Brimstones of the year, and also a Peacock butterfly.

It really is starting to feel like spring is here.

Sunday March 15 - Morton Bagot

A sunny, but increasingly windy morning. Dave and I made a promising start by spotting the first Stonechat here for several weeks. Surely a passage migrant.

We ambled southwards towards the old pool field, currently hosting a reasonably substantial pool due to recent heavy rain. 

Before we got there a calling sparrow caused us to halt. We were about as far away from any buildings as you can get, but in the ideal spot for seeing a Tree Sparrow....twenty years ago. The call nevertheless sounded like a House Sparrow, and although we didn't see it, I expect that's what it was. An adventurous House Sparrow.

 We had split up, checking either side of the hedge. I was on the wrong side when I heard Dave shout Woodcock. I rejoined him and we proceeded in the direction it had flown before disappearing behind the tangle of scrub. I thought there was no chance, but just fifty yards later it got up and flew on, and not before giving us a pretty decent flight view. Woodcocks overwinter here, but being largely nocturnal they hardly ever seen during the day. This was my first here since December 2023.

A little further on Dave drew my attention to a passerine standing in the marsh. This is where a camera comes in handy. Setting my scope up would have taken too long, but a quick photo revealed it was just a female Reed Bunting before it hopped to the right and out of sight. Definitely worth checking though.

We arrived at the flash field and counted 14 Lapwings, 58 Teal, and four Avocets. A couple of Little Egrets were present in the field next to the Kingfisher Pool. Business as usual. Also present was a "Canlag Goose" a hybrid Canada X Greylag. It reminded Dave that he was missing a White-fronted Goose at his other patch, Marsh Lane GP. 

Shortly afterwards I was birding alone, and unfortunately saw very little else before reaching my car.