A morning of high cloud and low expectations. We decided to follow the road as far as Bannams Wood because I have yet to see a Marsh Tit this year. One of their favourite places has been grubbed out and replaced by a water feature comprising a small pool and concrete waterfall, so it was disappointing, but not surprising, that we didn't find any. I hope they are not going to be added to the depressing list of former breeders which no longer occur; namely Tree Sparrow, Grey Partridge, and Lesser Spotted Woodpecker.
The route did at least facilitate a record equalling tally of six Coal Tits, while a Goldcrest played hide and seek along the hedgerow. Earlier we had counted 22 Meadow Pipits in the grassy field behind Netherstead copse.
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| Goldcrest |
Things got a bit livelier as we headed down the track from the road. Approximately 90 Lapwings swirling in the distance contained one bird with white plumage in one of its wings, and while we were trying to locate it we noticed several flocks (a grand total of 62) of Golden Plovers heading east.
Down at the pool we found the first of two pairs of
Coots which have arrived to take advantage of the higher water levels following last week's deluges.
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| Coots |
Not the most exciting year-tick, but they all count. By this time we were getting somewhat irritated by constant gunshots coming from somewhere beyond Morton springs, we guessed it could be a clay-pigeon shoot. On the flash field flocks of 50 Black-headed Gulls, 48 Teal, and three Wigeon awaited us but they spooked very quickly, we think in part through being unnerved by the gunshots.
Our second year-tick was a
Sparrowhawk which powered across a field and away. After this we were unable to see a great deal of interest before we reached our cars.
Pretty quiet.
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