⛅️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.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB9z4NkVrhvP0T0RPemPp12HM7FG80_W6h9ZMmluTLYILc55M5EGYs-1Ow9_a9aOt6RuHPRQj9SWqH83ymUKz6CydzLYThImhEm-f5_kOFDSh9AQGBGZu7eQxBJsF5k6bHoTrrQW0NLho/s640/IMG_5262.jpg) |
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.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxiUbBqzod3CQVM4yLi5y19Hw6luyZVRLAfQSZgMYPCy8UJbDaR8uEVnGingbtSbafQNXlaz7NBYj2fxQKtl_xJQOE8lMO5wgiDXsGIhichmNPapPDCyTNB3V9jGq2fuzXQFarUu3Stdw/s640/IMG_5308.jpg) |
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!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9vXU8mwuj699sA-z1GnlNxm-vjTXNR7p0Hms_NsNRhkgDzIitzl__yPELeUdW2ldyj8JuDGLilS1cABh2dZJrVftvE8eVVoBmxdSoTOTdj6d2GPsFQYVXHrxAQm-tuWbKqPrVlNTYObE/s640/IMG_5182.jpg) |
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.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFyO5MX2JEMtUCn2zwcN-_y0TmoCW3IRUpNhYGxvF3ztp6fj6MxL5HWAFSxq_RvRXzL6GDYwBv7Oa3-7z0H44-mXS2dl2ZTj1A62kNV1hn2Y0X6o9ktPCZLTSnE0Hnc7K52IlwJ5R7pFc/s640/IMG_5205.jpg) |
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....
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrWEvlOe9SBaP-yV2HTLIvyUzVHw8cR9XB6qZi4E1M4rsHnOPvqgR_u1M9oPwm8y8QW58QQ3uafPWhDsmS_chqh4publKxAs2UjaebE7gH05D-XbY-yF0JJJ09_L37iIdiqFzLpalzwgE/s640/IMG_5305.jpg) |
Another of the seven Yellow Wagtails |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEIDl91MThc8_cVqV-gwcA_h4qN91suelRwM943xeiMz6Zb7irq_8k1Bm2HGQbUdutYuaqMKzDeKho2JrH82Xyv3IwT0tvyKYms71sywxp9C53l1H26Hayty6w8dAUxTZuxkUZBRRe4FQ/s640/IMG_5261.jpg) |
House Martin |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGH9RDItYwraN7odXSdBwLl_7tDUtj4L7-XRJsmn-v77gqYcJToBagmQjAOjpBrIgaI2H30PIQCBGQrxK6rw3LxtbyjC8D-ShXd_oXC5V-1XjM40HX0dEdnwYEORSX5y5Zlg1um3E8yA4/s640/IMG_5287.jpg) |
Yellow Wagtail |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1R-sMVZcTv5Yk43bHRElow5rLNu3qvgQ4kCG2_81vei_TmdNOiEDmHODlmuGwGzyW1HEB0zcfMC00tA0veeQhw5U8CQWt_0ILmZndhi77fUSCHR1h2bSvkw3IwrnPRlqmZHIy8zp9eyA/s640/IMG_5181.jpg) |
Greenshank |