North Dene's yesterday with nothing remarkable. A pair of BLACKCAP on the cliff and 3 COMMON WHITETHROAT. A few LINNET over and knout else.
Pathways: First WHITETHROAT of the season and a fly over PERIGRINE FALCON. But the best was the female KINGFISHER which hung around for 30 minuets. Only a single GADWALL left and one COOT.
.JPG)
Carlton was my first walk out after surgery. At least I was not totally puffed out after a half mile walk. Best bird for me was my first SWALLOW calling as it flew through low. Also first BLACKCAP male singing and only just visible. The other surprise was the pair of CANADA GEESE who have taken to nesting on Spratt's Water. Surprisingly they have taken over the barnacle goose nesting site from last year. Also had four calling SEDGE WARBLER. GREEN WOODPECKER and GREAT SPOTTED WO9ODPECKER.
Fist time back at Pathways with 2 SWALLOWS, 4 BLACKCAP, GREENFINCH, 3 LITTLE GREBE, COOT 2, MOORHEN, MALLARF 3 and still a pair of GADWALL. Also ORANGE TIP and PEACOCK butterfly. No idea what these are?
.JPG)
Pleased to be able to sit in the garden for hours after being treated so well by NHS at Paget. On the mend but it will take a while. I have had the regular visit of our local female BLACK REDSTART. She sat on the wall looking at me for several minuets and then flew onto the path to feed. Only to return a few minuets later. I also had a call in of my first WILLOW WARBLER of the year which stayed around for most of the day. What was fascinating about this sighting was the symbiotic relationship between a female house sparrow and the willow warbler as the sparrow followed it from bush to bush. Why I have no explanation other than it was fascinated by this strange bird.
I also spent an hour last week with my first SWALLOW singing as it flew by. Also first BLACKCAP male singing deep in thicket but able to be seen. First SEDGE WARBLERS as well.
Just a short walk out and when I mean short, just one mile along the prom. Best bird was a close MEADOW PIPIT that new how to disappear. Which it did within seconds. CORMORANTS on the groynes with a few gulls and no surprises. Two OYSTERCATCHER under the sea wall as well as a few TURNSTONE and at the Ness end 11 PURPLE SANDPIPER. PIED WAGTAIL over and five GOLDFINCH.
Regular call in with the first sighting of a KINGFISHER on site, Bird sat in usual place beside high rise bank. There where three CHIFFCHAFF calling and a SPARROWHAWK flew from nearby the hide heading North. One of the clients from Pathways shew me a feather and I had no real idea but local birder recognised it as a MAGPIE tail feather.
Also took a video show of a DABCHICK.
Spent sometime in the garden with the sighting of a PERIGRINE leaving the silo and heading North and a few minuets later a SPARROWHAWK put in an appearance.
Sat in the garden off and on this morning listening to two CHIFFCHAFF calling well unlike yesterdays bird which was silent a bland. I was also joined briefly by our keep on appearing female BLACK REDSTART. She sat only a few feet away. Stunning bird and what a privilege to have such a bird regularly in your garden.
Somerlyton: Spent an hour by the water watching BUZZARDS and MARSH HARRIER quartering the reed bed. Picked up on two REED BUNTING both male. Had a large CROW fly by with its galular full of something.
