Cloudy and cool with a very light north-westerly breeze, quite a difference from last weekend.
Another morning was spent diligently censusing the local birds. A pair of Starlings and a singing Mistle Thrush the most notable species found. However, I was also on the look out for migrants and recorded four singing Willow Warblers, and a fine male Wheatear.
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| Wheatear |
There are now at least three Swallows present, and as well as the Lesser Whitethroat which was still singing spasmodically, I heard and saw the first
Common Whitethroat of the year.
At the flash field a Little Owl was showing well, and the Gadwall had moved to the nearest flash. Three Mistle Thrushes flew over.
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| Little Owl |
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| Gadwall |
A scan for waders revealed seven Lapwings, four Green Sandpipers, two Redshanks, and two Little Ringed Plovers, while Teal numbers were continuing to dwindle, now down to eight.
With no butterflies at all because of the cold weather, the only insects were a few hardy Buff-tailed Bumblebees. However, at the dragonfly pools my first chicks of the year were provided by a pair of Coot with at least three young.
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| Coot brooding two chicks |
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