⛅️6C to start then ☀️9C ~
Wind ↙NE@14mph ~ Gusting 20mph Monday 13th April 2020 ~ A complete rest Easter Sunday from any birding, instead I enjoyed a pleasant cycle ride with Dazza in the lovely sunshine.
However, today it was back to normal with the 'Daily Lockdown Walk' to the nearby Napton Reservoir. No #nocmig recording overnight due to heavy showers and an increase in wind speed.
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| I estimate around 20+ House Martins amongst the hirundines this morning |
It seems that the overnight rain and now blustery conditions had lit the blue touch paper when I arrived at the Reservoir. The stiff north-easterly was gusting to around 20mph and as I raised my head above the steps the place was awash with Hirundines! What had been a trickle over the previous week was now an avalanche and I estimated a mixture of some (20+)
House Martins, (10+)
Sand Martins and the remainder, some (70+)
Swallows.
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| One of at least seven Yellow Wagtails today. |
Along the bank, I could already make out at least three
Yellow Wagtails and it wasn't until I reached the wooden bridge that I realised there was at least seven!
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| This Greenshank was a pleasant surprise today |
As I approached the bridge I flushed a
Greenshank which I'd missed and was obviously feeding along the water's edge. Fortunately, it offered the opportunity for some record flight shots before disappearing over the treeline towards the canal.
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| Greenshank on the move |
At the reedbeds, there was another year-first with a newly arrived
Reed Warbler singing and amazingly to finish the walk a group of six
Wader Sp. flew through the marina as I arrived back to the boat, but I wasn't concentrating, best guess
Dunlin but sadly not a tick.
It was an unprecedented morning of local birding for me and to be honest, I can't help thinking that this would not have been possible if the usual fisherman and dog walkers were here.
More Images of a Brilliant Morning....
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| Another of the seven Yellow Wagtails |
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| House Martin |
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| Yellow Wagtail |
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| Greenshank |
