Sunday, March 22, 2015

Weekend Update

My usual trips to Brandon Marsh over the weekend haven't produced any further spring migrants, but there's been lots to see with a number of species busy nest building. These have included Nuthatch, Long-tailed Tits and Dunnocks.

Long-tailed Tit - Proud owner of a new house!
Areas close by to Brandon have been very productive and after reports of Little-ringed Plover and Ringed Plover at the old Peugeot site Jim Rushforth and I headed over for a look on Saturday. Indeed we connected with two of each, along with Meadow Pipit, Linnet and Skylark. A further report of a Wheatear at Coventry Airport a little later was tempting but I was all cosy and back aboard by then.

Record shot of ♂Wheatear at Coventry Airport today
A later start at Brandon on Sunday and a look across the tip area and farm fields produced little but at least three Great Spotted Woodpeckers were drumming in Horsetail Glade. I passed on my coffee and toasted teacake in the nature centre to try for yesterdays Wheatear and was rewarded with a stunning male, most likely yesterdays bird and my first of the year! Looking forward to taking the Brandon Team on an away-day to the Forest of Dean tomorrow.