A rest from birding this weekend to recharge the batteries but mainly to devote some quality time to Dazza who's been working hard all week. Of course, we're like policemen us birders, never off duty and one of the highlights during our walks around the marina grounds consisted of (4)
Common Terns, now regular visitors and often perching on the pontoon stanchions.
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| A break in the weather from clear skies on Sunday evening. |
☁️9C to start then ⛅️15C ~
Wind ↘NW@7mph Monday 27th April 2020 ~ As I'd already anticipated happening at some stage I'm now stuck on 95 species in my quest for the ton-up 'Lockdown List', so I was keen to get back to it this morning.
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| One of four Common Terns now regularly visiting the marina |
Today I completed a tour of the marina grounds and a single circuit of the reservoir. It was a totally different feel to the day compared to that of late with 9/10th cloud cover and a light north-westerly breeze when I set out. A quick tour of the marina for anything new yielded nothing, then a single circuit of the reservoir before heading back to attend to a few boat chores.
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| One of a brace of Yellow Wagtails today |
As is now the norm there were a few dozen
Swallows feeding over the water, occasionally joined by the odd
House and
Sand Martin, but since seeing my first
Swift of the year last Wednesday I've had none since. Two
Yellow Wagtails along the bank and a
Common Tern, likely one from the marina, passed through shortly followed by a
Little-ringed Plover which continued on at height calling. Having seen an LRP now almost daily I'm certain they must be nesting somewhere quite local.
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| Lesser Whitethroat ~ Currently outnumbering Common during my walks. |
Around the reedbeds
Reed Warblers and
Sedge Warblers, plus a
Little Grebe calling from deep inside. While here a short walk to the back of the reeds under the cover of the vegetation gave me an opportunity to photograph a very elusive
Lesser Whitethroat, one of three today.
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| Lockheed C130 ~ How low can you go? ~ View across towards Napton Hill |
A few short sessions sky-watching during the afternoon produced: (2)
Sand Martin, (4)
Swallows, (3)
Common Buzzard,
Red Kite, (2)
Raven and a fly-by
Lockheed C130 Hercules out of Brize Norton!
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| Yellow Wagtail |
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| Lesser Whitethroat |
