Wednesday 18 April 2012

Highs and Lows

The weather here is typical April , showers, windy and generally unsettled, as predicted this has stalled migration to a lesser or greater degree, with Whitethroat and House Martin still absent in the local vicinity( although I have seen both nearby,but not on the patch). However a circuit of the area still produced a few birds, the stars being 4 stonking male WHEATEARS , in the top fields. We still have 2 singing WILLOW WARBLERS , 3 singing CHIFFCHAFF, 3 singing BLACKCAP, 3 singing SKYLARK.5 STOCK DOVE, a male YELLOWHAMMER, 6 LINNET over, a flock of 8 PIED WAGTAIL. In the blustery conditions just 2 BUZZARD today, a RAVEN low over the fields, a male GREATER SPOTTED WOODPECKER near to a likely nesting hole. The numbers were provided by 130 plus LESSER BLACK BACKED GULLS on the sheep fields. Lets hope I can bring some better news in the next few days ,the weather is supposed to calm down by Sunday .