Wednesday 10 April 2013

Spring has sprung

Well a trickle really.
Finally managed to get out with Bob to the pond and we had 2 Swallow, 7 Sand Martin and 3 Willow Warblers as new arrivals along with a nice male Wheatear though we missed a female. Only other summer visitors present were Chiffchaffs but they have been around for sometime favouring the north side and still in good numbers.
A few duck still present with 10 Gadwall, 14 Teal, 15 Wigeon and 17 Goldeneye worthy of note considering the fishing season is in full swing.
Bird of the day was a Woodcock flushed from the undergrowth near the stream running along side the sewage farm.
Other birds noted included  Water Rail, 3 Buzzard, 2 Siskin, Lesser Redpoll, Red-legged Partridge, Grey Wagtail, 7 Fieldfare and 3 Redwing though Bob had 300 Redwing on the north side.
Gadwall by Bob Hazel
Not surprisingly they have been thin on the ground recently – just started to record Bumble-bees but still waiting for my first butterfly of the year.
Moths have shrugged off the winter chill in next to no time and I have added Oak Beauty, Hebrew Character and Pale Pinion to my garden year list in the last two days with last nights trap producing 6 species from 11 moths.
Oak Beauty

Pale Pinion by Bob Hazel

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