At least the frogs seem to have got the memo. I'm sure there must be garden ponds throughout the area to regularly host them but this is the only 'wild' pond I see frogspawn at regularly.
And now a round up of the birdies...
Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd March
Gadwall - 9
Teal - 36
Pochard - 1 male
Tufted Duck - 11
Little Grebe - 9
Cormorant - 1
Grey Heron - some activity around the heronry
Little Egret - 1 on field drain at Millingdale
Marsh Harrier - female hunting Kelk Beck. Very early for area.
Sparrowhawk - 2
Buzzard - 12
Kestrel - 3
Oystercatcher - 2 pairs. There's been 2-3 pairs annually recently.
Lapwing - 120+
Woodcock - 1
Green Sandpiper - 2
Lesser Black-backed Gull - 1 was the first of the year.
Barn Owl - 1
Kingfisher - 2
Grey Wagtail - 1
Redwing - 3. First ones of the year!!!
Chiffchaff - just 1 singing, at Foston. A poor show.
Dipper - still present on Saturday.
Starling - 400+ is a big flock for time of year.
Linnet - flock of 90+
Photos...
Little Egret up a tree. For such a normally smart looking bird this one had obviously been over-reaching itself in the drains as it had a lot of muck on it's plumage.
Little Egret flying away from tree. Observe its yellow feet.
What on earth is this Mallard cross-bred with? I'm not even sure whether it is male or female.
Male Reed Bunting now into fresh breeding plumage. For such a distinctive bird they are very unassuming.
There were seven additions to the year list.
072 Lesser Black-backed Gull
073 Oystercatcher
074 Redwing
075 Marsh Harrier
076 Canada Goose
077 Chiffchaff
078 Wigeon
079 Little Egret
Posts
