π§5C to start then ⛅️14C ~
Wind From ↙NE@8mph Saturday 18th April 2020 ~
Again no #nocmig recording last night due to the weather. I was tempted to head out early doors today after yesterday's extraordinary day but to be perfectly frank I dismissed the thought immediately when the rain suddenly became almost torrential as I was about to leave.
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| Always a pleasure to see a Bullfinch |
I eventually got out mid-morning when the rain finally eased off but unfortunately so too had the wind. A
Lesser Whitethroat was singing along the track as I headed out of the marina grounds across to the reservoir. The now regular
Willow Warblers,
Whitethroats and
Blackcaps were all in song and today a pair of
Bullfinch were a lovely sight. It would seem that the local
Chiffchaffs are now paired off, not a single one heard today.
I completed my usual circuit of the reservoir which, thanks to the cloud cover still had many
Swallows,
House Martins and the odd
Sand Martin feeding low over the water. At one point a small falcon, probably a
Peregrine flew north over the distant Long Itchington chimney, I say
Peregrine but the possibility of
Hobby did cross my mind? The best of the rest included (2)
Common Sandpiper, (4)
Yellow Wagtails, (3)
Meadow Pipits & (2)
Lesser Whitethroat.
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| A beautiful start to the day Sunday |
⛅️5C to start then ⛅️14C ~
Wind From ↙NE@3mph Sunday 19th April 2020 ~ A crack of dawn 'Lockdown' Walk today in beautiful conditions.
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| A Sedge Warbler finally breaks cover. |
Nothing new on the marina grounds today but the dawn chorus is most definitely gaining in volume. Over at the reservoir too there was plenty of birdsong and eventually one of what I estimate to be six
Sedge Warblers on site finally gave me a photo opportunity.
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| This Ringed Plover became my 89th 'Lockdown' List tick today! |
By the time I'd walked to the wooden bridge, I'd noted that the two now long staying
Common Sandpipers were still here, along with four
Yellow Wagtails. It was at this point that my 89th 'Lockdown List' species suddenly came into view, a
Ringed Plover! In fact, the bird was lucky to survive a
Sparrowhawk attack later in the morning, but survive it did.
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| Three Little Egrets over the marina as I headed back today. |
My 90th 'Lockdown List' species occurred on my way back to the boat when three
Little Egrets flew north over the marina. This now gives me a clear countdown of 10 new sightings to reach a personal goal of
100 species for my 'Lockdown List'.
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| A singing Common Whitethroat along the hedgerow at the marina dog exercise field and 2 Red Kites over were other highlights of the day. |
