May Corn

Report for last weekend. Apart from the bumper return of warblers - see separate post 'Warblings' - it was not a particularly eventful weekend. The highlight was a singing Corn Bunting, they are now almost extinct as a breeding bird in the area, and the national picture is pretty grim too (BTO / RSPB).

Saturday 18th / Sunday 19th May

Mute Swan - 2
Greylags - 25
Canadas - 6 adults and 21 (16+5) young
Gadwall - 13
Mallard - 2 young noted
Tufted Duck - 10
Red-legged Partridge - 5
Grey Partridge - 2
Little Grebe - 2
Cormorant - 5
Little Egret - 1
Heron - 5
Sparrowhawk - 2
Buzzard - 12
Kestrel - 5
Coot - 4
Oystercatcher - 3
Lapwing - 24
Lesser Black-backed Gull - 1
Herring Gull - 32
Swift - 30+ mostly at Harpham
Great Spotted Woodpecker - 2
Sand Martin - 70+
Swallow - 50+
House Martin - 30+
Yellow Wagtail - 6
Grey Wagtail - 2 at Wansford
Sedge Warbler - 2
Reed Warbler - 1
Blackcap - 'plenty'
Lesser Whitethroat - 2 'new'
Whitethroat - 46
Chiffchaff - 'plenty'
Willow Warbler - 11
Bullfinch - 2
Reed Bunting - 6 males Kelk Beck
Corn Bunring - 1 male nr Kelk

Still only a handful off butterflies about, the most notable was a Wall.

1. Canada Goose pair with 16 goslings. I gather a normal brood would be 4-7 eggs so this seems likely to be a 'creche' from 3-4 different pairs. Given the historically low breeding density in the area it's no surprise this is the first time I've encountered this behaviour here. It seems reasonable to assume this is a legacy of the unprecedented flock last autumn that peaked at 166 in October.

Corn Bunting singing.

Hare. Quite a few out in the open at the weekeend.

Reed Bunting male. Delightful birds although not the most inspiring song, to be fair.

Wall butterfly. The last couple of years haven't been great for butterflies, hopefully this summer will be a bit more favourable.

Just two addition for the year - the bunting and Swift.

092 - Swift
093 - Corn Bunting