Monday 23 March 2015

Frog's p0rn

Despite a bit of sun yesterday I'm less than convinced spring is in full swing. It is, obviously, but it could have tried a bit harder!

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