Rather good birdwalk

Before I arrived Richard texted to say Green Sandpiper SW corner LFGP and with just a few minutes spare before the bird walk, I debated trying, but I went for it and as I crossed the green bridge that familiar call rang out as the Green Sandpiper flew over my head SW....saving me the 150 yards each way trip to Ron's hide.

On to the bird walk and Richard called saying "you're not going to believe this but we've got Red Crested Pochard with 3 young at LFGP". Amazing I said and pledged to head there later, but as usual, we went to BSL first, where the only birds to mention were the pair of Red Crested Pochard at the waters edge of the far end of the large island...so two pairs have been hanging around all this time!?

I thought it would be worth a try and my instincts were right, 2 for Nightingales were singing on arrival at the BSL/WSL hedgerow. One was in view no doubt enjoying the warm morning sun, but sadly it was brief and didn't show after, despite our trying pretty hard to see them for an hour. During our efforts the second was singing quite near the base of the viewpoint, so we headed there and despite failing to see it, heard it very close by, then we heard Cetti's and then as we went to leave I picked up Lesser Whitethroat singing, then a second. This is one day earlier than ever recorded, the 2nd earliest was 14th 2007 and then next, 16th 2011, but the species does not usually show up until between the 23rd to 25th.

Time pressed on and a quick look at Sandford produced the pair of Red Crested Pochard from BSL, plus a lone male Shoveler, after that I had to leave, but very happy with 3 year ticks and one of those an earliest ever arrival.

I am on 99 for the year!

Gull rescue

After a couple of weeks of BH Gulls being reported as stuck under the netting we planned to remove it today. I was tied up all morning and another Dunlin was seen in my absence and was gone when I arrived to meet Alan.

What I did find was a female Wheatear on the track towards the SE corner, about parallel with the Sand Martin wall, so much closer than the March bird, allowing at least a record shot or two.

A few groups of 5+Sand Martins, then 10-15 went thru North, along with 3's and 4's of Swallow.

And of course we took off the netting and let the BH Gull escape, leaving it free for all to fight over, which was not really planned until the Common Terns arrived in force later this month, so the gulls will have a significant advantage this year.

A Tern for the better

At LFGP this morning, it was pretty quiet until I saw a Tern coming over, it circled the lake and showed a fine black primary edge front and back, long tail streamers, short bill and elastic wing beats, but I couldn't pick up the translucence in the wings, either way it was an obvious Arctic Tern and made up immediately for my missing the Little Gull a few days ago.

Shortly after 7 Sand Martin went thru and 4 Oystercatcher came in and out.

After I left a Common Tern arrived, but likewise left quickly after.

An hour and 3 quarters in the car park was quiet, 6-7 Buzzard and tow lots of 3 Swallow thru.

I meant to post that on the day of the Dunlin, I had a distant small falcon harassing a Red Kite, but it was just too far to ID, most likely a Kestrel?

1 out of 3

Marek was out early again today and had a Common Tern thru, I arrived LFGP about10:00 and found a summer plumage Dunlin, which despite getting grief from various species, stuck around for others to year tick

Over North went 5+ Sand Martin and 1 Swallow, a Skylark landed in view nearby for a change, little else for a while, then a pair of moulting Raven went over low, drifting East, then SE 12:05.

After I left a 1st winter Little Gull circled once and off North before I could get back. This was the 100th species for the park this year.

Another 2

Thinking it was bird walk day I went up to the car park field and heard Willow Warbler, I went to have a look. After several minutes at the bottom of the field it dawned on me it was the first Sunday, not second.

Very little about on BSL and SL, so headed for LFGP, but half way to the green bridge I picked up a distant calling Coal Tit, excellent, 2 year ticks in 30 minutes and now only 3 off the pace at 94 of 97.

At LFGP 2 Sand Martin, a possible House Martin and 1 Swallow went thru quickly overhead. In spring hirundines have the habit of going behind Ron's Hide, or directly over so you have to got outside and have less than a 50% chance of picking them up again, hence the possible House.

Working the patch

I found Marek at Ron's Hide and we scoured the lake and landfill, a Redshank, an Oystercatcher, a Skylark, a few Teal, 1 Goldeneye, 1 female Pochard, Gadwall and lots of BH Gulls was about it.

A search of Sandford brought the 2 male Red Crested Pochard, BSL had nothing to mention, so then a little watch at the car park field, which was better, Nuthatch singing, then Marek picked up 2 Raven off to the NE, 1 Little Owl for a moment in the usual Oak, 2 then 4 more Sand Martin North, plus the usual Mistle Thrush stuffing it's beak with food.

Later Marek texted with news of Willow Warbler at Mortimer's, Martin Mitchell reported one at BSL viewpoint earlier too, putting the park on 97.

Marek asked me what was the highest day list and I am going to have to consult old note books to answer that question, I think it is around 70, or just under.

An after lunch quick walk produced very little except my first chance since February, to get a record shot of the female Red Crested Pochard on Sandford.

I took some distant shots of the Little Egrets on the 3rd, here are two of them

Quiet it has been

I sound like Yoda, but yes it has been very quiet and one can wonder why with such mild weather all winter and when the Chiffchaffs started arriving 9th March I thought spring would be early....but no!

I did a quick look back at records and 2014 is the lowest start to the year on record, comparing March 31st totals, 2012 is highest with 106, lowest was 2004 and 2010 with just 97. So 2014's 95 is utterly pitiful, but in many ways not surprising due to the mild winter.

The Oystercatchers look like they are settling on Sandford and the car park Mistle Thrushes are feeding avidly, indicating young mouths need feeding.

At least the 4 Red Crested Pochard are still about and a short walk today brought the first Swallow over Lavell's briefly, then off North.