Wednesday 30 April 2008

Wednesday Spring 3 - Far Ings

Linnet Willow Warbler (c) 2008 Maurice Gordon
Red Campion
Cowslip
Blackcap
Record shot of Blackcap (female)
Willow Warbler
We had our first Swifts and Common Terns today, and the Linnets were the first we had seen at this location for some time.

Tuesday 29 April 2008

Tuesday Spring 3 - Hudson Way

Turtle Dove


Flushed by jogger with 2 yapping dogs!
Yellow Wagtailrear view
Red-legged Partridge
Red-legged Partridge
Robin
Yellowhammer
Willow Warbler
Great to see a Turtle Dove at the beginning of this morning's session - in all heard 3 purring. No further sightings this afternoon in cloudy conditions followed by rain & hail. The weather cleared but the Turtle Doves didn't reappear. The Yellow Wagtail in the car park was a big surprise. In 30 years of visiting this location, I can't remember ever seeing this species here before. It may have been migrating along the old railway line. There was a dearth of Common Whitethroats - unusual for this location at this time of year, but there were at least 3 Lesser Whitethroats, a pair of Blackcaps, several Willow Warblers and a single Chiffchaff. Plenty of Linnets - some vivid red, Yellowhammers and the usual common birds. Several of the sycamores haven't come into leaf yet, so it was easier than in recent years to see some of the passerines.

Sunday 27 April 2008

Garden Wildlife

Fox


Brambling (female)

Great Spotted Woodpecker (male)
Goldfinch
Collared Dove
Young Song Thrush
Song Thrush
Young Robin
Blackbird
Speckled Wood (on jacket potato!)
I thought it may be interesting to produce a compilation of the wildlife photographed at home in recent weeks. Please note many of the birds are taken through double-glazed windows, so aren't as sharp as they may be. Thanks to Maurice Gordon for removing the glare from the windows on the Woodpecker and Brambling pictures.
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Friday 25 April 2008

Friday Spring 2 - Far Ings

Pochard
Yellow Wagtail (c) 2008 Chris Cox
Willow Tit
Chaffinch Record shot of Bullfinch
Record shot of Willow Warbler


Nothing sparkling in the photo stakes today, which is why I've included Chris Cox's pic of a Yellow Wagtail taken elsewhere. Plenty of warblers singing round the reserve, including about 7 Blackcaps & similar numbers of Willow Warblers; at least 3 Lesser Whitethroats, a few Chiffchaffs, Reed & Sedge Warblers. There were at least 6 sightings of Kingfishers, but it's not known how many individuals this represented. No Marsh Harriers and a possible Bittern spotted by John, David, Peter & Kathleen.

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Thursday 24 April 2008

Thursday Spring 2 - North Cave Wetlands

Lesser Whitethroat




Whitethroat



Female Green Woodpecker (c) 2008 Tony Robinson

Skylark (c) 2008 Maurice Gordon
Skylark (c) 2008 Maurice Gordon
Typical hedgerow inhabitant - Swallow (male)
No Respecter of signs - Sand Martin
Lapwing
Lapwing
Record shot of Common Sandpiper
Rook
A very wet morning at our standby location. The afternoon had heavy showers forecast, but we got away without any. The Skylark pics were taken elsewhere, but there were plenty of them here too! A morning highlight was a distant Wheatear, whilst the afternoon session had a pair of distant Buzzards. Species day total: 52
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