A few bits and bobs seen over the last few days but struggling to find the time to update regularly just lately! These are mostly summer migrants that are dropping onto my list, the moths have taken a serious back seat due to the cold weather.
Thursday - A quick pop into Wyver Lane at 5pm to see if there were many hirundines showing yet. The Oystercatchers put on a good show zooming between both pool whilst watching them from the mound. Also present were Lapwing, 2 x Shelduck, a number of Wigeon still, 2 x Teal, a Siskin flew over and then dropped into one of the trees along the lane. We chatted with a couple of guys who informed us that due to the showery weather (we turned up during a sunny patch) the hirundines had been down but had now dispersed. We did manage to find one Swallow though. Wyver looks really green now, the bit of rain has obviously helped the vegetation. Also found this Spider on the gravel on the viewing mound.
Friday afternoon - whilst Jordan was at his mates birthday I grabbed an hour down at Willington and decided to try and find Sand Martins over by the quarry side. This Chiffchaff was too close to ignore, and I heard a Willow Warbler (didn't see it though). After walking up to the railway bridge I'd spotted my first Orangetip for the year, and a number of Swallows were feeding around the birches along the railway. A couple of Buzzards were up on the thermals and whilst watching them I heard the familiar buzzing of Sand Martins. Sure enough after a quick search a party of 8 Sands together with 15 Swallows were heading north over the quarry. Great!
Sunday morning - a lovely sunny walk along the Greenway to Ripley saw a number of recently arrived migrants including Blackcap, Chiffchaff and a year first Willow Warbler, merrily belting out its pleasant descending song. Also had a pair of Bullfinch on the entrance near Peasehill.
Bird Yearlist = 129
Moth Yearlist = still stuck on 24 but with a brief reprise of the warmth on Monday/Tuesday it looks like I might actually be able to get the trap out!
Tonight's cast were this splendid female Wheatear, the nesting Sand Martins, a pair of Little Ringed Plover at close range as well as some Coot, Mallard, a Sedge Warbler which didn't show itself, a very melodious Linnet and a pair of Lapwing. A brilliant site that I encourage everyone to visit, especially as it seems to be on the verge of being swamped. To come so far with the place to only lose it again would be a shame. The list of wildlife is quite amazing, this Spring a Ring Ouzel stayed for a while. Wish I'd gone to see that now...
