Thursday 27 June 2019

Quest for Quail Failed


With the recent report of a Quail in Kelk there seemed no better idea than to trawl round the lanes at dusk listening out for them. Alas, over 3 hours doing exactly that on Friday & Saturday evenings drew a complete blank. Oh well. You've gotta be in the game to win etc. etc.

Highlights otherwise were a Little Ringed Plover and Hobby.

Saturday 21st & Sunday 22nd June

Mute Swan - 1
Canada Goose - pair with 5 young
Tufted Duck - 1
Grey Partridge - 3
Cormorant - 3 flying E
Little Egret - 1 still at Wansford
Grey Heron - 18
Sparrowhawk - 1
Buzzard - 20
Kestrel - 10
Hobby - 1
Oystercatcher - 2 (failed breeders have usually left by now - so?)
Little Ringed Plover - 1
Lapwing - 10
Curlew - 2 flying N
Lesser Black-backed Gull - 5
Herring Gull - 30+
Barn Owl - 1
Tawny Owl - 2
Swift - 60+
Kingfisher - 1
Great Spotted Woodpecker - 2
Swallow/Martins - seemingly few about
Meadow Pipit - 2
Yellow Wagtail - 5
Mistle Thrush - 3
Sedge Warbler - 12
Reed Warbler -1

Garden Warbler - 1
Lesser Whitethroat - 3
Willow Warbler - 3
Tree Sparrow - 13
Bullfinch - 2
Reed Bunting - 7

Also...

Bat sp - several at 4 'sites' on evening Quail searches
Roe Deer - 1

Painted Lady - 19
Red Admiral - 6
Small Tortoiseshell - 12
Speckled Wood - 10
'White' - 1

Common Blue Damselfy - 5


Little Ringed Plover adult scurrying around a much heap at Kelk. A pretty random/small location, strongly suggesting a return (autumn!) passage migrant.















A very fine view of a very fine Mistle Thrush. Understated yet sublty extravagant at the same time, if such a state is possible.















It seems to be a Painted Lady year - the commonest butterfly over the weekend. I've seen only a few in recent years.















Speckled Wood. Another common butterfly locally.















Trout in Kelk Beck. Heavily processed photo to get enough contrast!















Two additions to the year list, then. No sign of Marsh Harrier yet!

096 Hobby
097 Little Ringed Plover


Wednesday 19 June 2019

Briefs

A couple of recent sightings to report. My monthly visit is planned for this weekend.

5th June - Quail calling in corn field at Kelk

19th June - Red Kite drifted over Kelk. First record in June / summer.

Both new for the year...

094 - Quail
095 - Red Kite