Thursday March 6 - It's a marathon, not a sprint

 It's amazing how joining Patchwork Challenge has unleashed the competitive instinct in me. I had told myself I would not change my approach to local birding. I would continue mapping the distribution of the birds within ten kilometres of my house and joining the competition wouldn't change a thing.

But then I drew a part of a square kilometre in the Alcester area, most of which fell outside the circle. As this meant it would only take half an hour to cover I reasoned I could spend the rest of Tuesday morning checking out potential ticks in that general area. Perhaps it served me right that I drew a complete blank: no Cetti's Warbler, no Little Grebe, and no Little Owl.

I did in fact add one species to the list, the humble Chiffchaff, one of which I heard singing along Coughton Fields Lane. 

Today I returned to the area determined to get back to mapping birds. It's now March which for me means I can start counting birds as breeders instead of winterers, although I must admit a lot of the birds are probably not yet on territory.

No ticks were added to the year list but I rather enjoyed getting back to "normal" birding. It was also sunny, so the camera got an airing.

Chiffchaff (the same one as on Tuesday)

Chaffinch (singing male)

Singing male Yellowhammer

Some minor discoveries included a fly-over Red Kite, and a small party of Reed Buntings Chaffinches and Redpolls which were attracted to a damp patch in the road, but unfortunately were disturbed by the local postman who drove passed just as I was getting to grips with them. The only Redpoll I photographed was rather washed out and had white wing-bars (all consistent with the feather wear you can see in Lesser Redpolls by early spring), but as the Redpolls have now been lumped into one species I no longer need to care whether it was Lesser or Common Redpoll.

Redpoll

It's a marathon, not a sprint.

Sunday March 2 - Spring in name only.

 I've spent much of the week out of "birding" action. Friends were visiting and needed to take priority. Only on Friday did I finally get out, choosing Preston Bagot at the eastern edge of the circle. It was good to get back into the field, but the birding was steady. The highlight was a flock of at least 45 Siskins.

Now at least it's March. Meteorological spring has sprung. This morning it got off to a good start when the two local Hawfinches flew over as I headed to get a paper. In glorious sunshine I could see the white tips of their tails as well as the more obvious white flashes on their underwings. It was just a shame it was only a naked eye view.

Morton Bagot failed to deliver anything new for the year, but we searched for signs of spring anyway.

As far as the birds were concerned it was just a case of ticking off the usual species. Tawny Owl, 26 Lapwings, 42 Teal, 28 Meadow Pipits, a fly-over Yellowhammer, a Little Egret, and a Green Sandpiper stood out. The latter was the first I have actually seen (as opposed to heard) this year. Unfortunately it was never very close.

The water in the flash pools was largely frozen, but thawed in parts. The only insect brave enough to be on the wing this morning was a Buff-tailed Bumblebee, the traditional first of the year's queen bees.

As for wildflowers, we saw none. Although of course Hazel catkins were out, and are technically flowers.

So no Chiffchaffs, Wheatears, or Sand Martins for me yet, but they've all been reported elsewhere in the country this year so it shouldn't be long.