Lockdown Day Two (Wednesday 25th)

☀️14C ~ Wind ↑SE@8mph Wednesday 25th March 2020 ~ I had planned to complete a 'nocmig' last night, but basically I forgot to set the recording up before I went off to bed, it may have been the wine!

My first singing Blackcap of the year at Napton Church today

My walk today included Napton Church and Napton Reservoir. It was another cloudless day but not as warm as yesterday. I was delighted to come across my first singing Blackcap of the year near the churchyard and the walk up to the windmill produced of note a couple of Goldcrests, Nuthatch and a Raven overhead. Looking out across the counties from the windmill ten Chaffinch flew through in a group but if there was anything else going through I'm certain that with the clear skies they would have passed high overhead, generally, it was pretty quiet, save for two singing Chiffchaffs as I walked down to the towpath.

A Great Crested Grebe enjoying the unusual calm of Napton Reservoir

A few Meadow Pipits and  Skylarks singing as I walked along the towpath to Napton Reservoir which was deserted! Unlike yesterday's visit, where despite being closed as a fishery had several individuals flouting the rules. Looks like maybe the Canal Trust have acted, if they have it would be a first 😀 or maybe I'm just being a little facetious!

The vibrant Peacock butterfly enjoying the warmth at Napton Reservoir

Again it was a quietish visit on the birding front with just a single Chiffchaff singing, a few hirundines high and distant (probably Sand Martin) and the usual wildfowl. Fewer butterflies too with just two Small Tortoiseshell and a single Peacock.

One of the marina House Sparrow colony 

I spent a couple of hours throughout the day sitting on the deck in the glorious sunshine. A Coot occasionally passed by carrying more material for a nearby nest, which I'm keeping an eye on and Reed Buntings were busy too, along with the constant chattering of our House Sparrow colony. The skies were pretty quiet, until dusk when the usual hoards of Gulls passed through, no doubt on their way to the Draycote Water roost. (4) Buzzard, (3) Raven, (2) Kestrel were other notables but it was eerily quiet with most non residents being asked to head home.