July Return

Well what a strange few months it has been, and indeed continues to be for the forseeable future due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Perhaps the less said the better but oh boy have I missed my visits to Kelk. You think you appreciate the countryside and the positive mental effects being outside all day in it brings... until it's taken away from you for months!

But enough. I managed to make a visit in July and it turned out very good indeed.

The majority of the summer migrants were noted, boosting the year list to 93. The undoubted highlight was an OSPREY drifting south over Kelk. Backup highlights were a pair of Gadwall (possible local breeding?), an unseasonal Teal, male Marsh Harrier, a Little Ringed Plover, 3 Green Sandpipers, 3 Barn Owls, an impressive flock of 380 Swift feeding together, a Hobby, another summer record of Jay, 2 unseasonal Grey Wagtails (local breeding?), and 3 singing Corn Buntings.

Saturday 11th - Monday 13th July

Canada Goose - 20, at least 3 families.

Greylag Goose - 32

Mute Swan - 1

Gadwall - 2 is unusual for July and could indicate local breeding

Mallard - 30+ including some families

Teal - 1 is unusual for July

Red-legged Partridge - 2

Grey Partridge - 2

Little Grebe - 2

Grey Heron - 4

OSPREY - 1 south over Kelk

Sparrowhawk - 3

Marsh Harrier - 1 male

Buzzard - 11

Oystercatcher - 2

Little Ringed Plover - 1

Green Sandpiper - 3

Lesser Black-backed Gull - 8

Barn Owl - 3

Tawny Owl - 2

Little Owl - 1

Swift - 380 feeding together is an exceptional gathering

Kingfisher - 2

Great Spotted Woodpecker - 4

Kestrel - 11

Hobby - 1

Jay - 1 at Lowthorpe was intersting (a pair bred in 2019)

'hirundines' - plenty about but doesn't seem a good year

Warblers - all the usual ones noted except Garden Warbler. It is difficult to assess the situation without having visited at all through spring but...  4 male Reed Warblers is encouraging, as was 12 Sedge Warblers and 3 Lesser Whitethroats.

Yellow Wagtail - 4

Grey Wagtail - 2 is unseasonal

Meadow Pipit - 3

Bullfinch - 3

Corn Bunting - 3 males singing equals the best year in the previous decade (2014)

Butterflies were not numerous but...

Meadow Brown - 10+

Ringlet - 80+

Red Admiral - 1

Small Tortoiseshell - 45

Whites - 15+

Also 2 Common Darter.

#1 - Green Sandpiper. One of three seen. Always odd to be reminded that southern migration has already begun by early July.

#2 - Grey Wagtail. One of two seen over the weekend. With only one July record in the previous decade, two is clearly very odd. They weren't together but it's possible there has been a breeding pair locally.

#3 - Little Ringed Plover. A pretty scarce bird locally. The previous two records (2017 & 2019) were both on small field pools similar to this one.

#4 - Marsh Harrier male. A pair are present not too far away so this might be the male from there. I haven't been very lucky with Marsh Harrier sightings in recent years so this was a real delight.

#5 - Osprey. Wow. Just WOW. This is the fourth one I've been lucky enough to see in the area and the first in July.

#6 - Song Thrush collecting worms. Not the easiest birds to photograph so I'm quite pleased with this.

#7 - Blackbird. They just looks so smart.

The year list leapt up to 93. I won't list them all but since Osprey was the final addition...

093 Osprey

Until next time - stay safe!