Saturday 22 March 2014

Slow Transition

As the title suggests the seasons are changing although today it felt colder than any other day of the winter.
Over the week there were a few high lights, with a flock of 25 Fieldfare heading east , and a steady through put of Meadow Pipits with numbers fluctuating on a daily basis as they pass there way north .
So Willow and I were out at 6.30 am and it was a clear sunlit morning although the wind was cold and a few squally showers passed over during the walk.
After a few days of not hearing any Chiffchaffs (last Saturdays bird had moved on ), it was pleasing to hear 2 birds this morning.
A Buzzard flapped lazily overhead and a Moorhen called from a small pond ,it remained unseen though .
On pasture Skylarks had decreased to 6 most birds in pairs now, they will attempt to breed but few if any will succeed thanks to our lovely local farmer ,he is about as sensitive to nature as a nuclear bomb.
Meadow Pipits were again to the fore with 29 been seen ,the largest flock being 15, one and twos passed over heading due north. .There was also a slight upturn in Linnet Numbers with 15 plus been seen including a flock of 12 no doubt migrants.
A calling Curlew from the river meadows was a lovely sound ,it reminds me of much wilder places that I have been .
On the raptor front apart from the Buzzard there were 2 Sparrow hawk this morning with both male and female hunting the hedgerows. A Raven was seen perching on a dead tree ,they often just seem to be passing over so it was nice to see one on the deck, they really are big birds.
The usual Green Woodpecker called in the distance ,but I never seem to see it ,also an unseen Greater Spotted Woodpecker called.
The best of the rest were a Red Legged Partridge and 6 plus Stock Dove. So on the whole pretty quiet really and with me working away this week  I feel I may miss the first arrival of some species .
In the garden our pair of Blue Tits look as if they are going to use the nest box this year  .It was also good to see a pair of Robins looking as if they are prospecting a nest sight within the garden ,a reader remarked how much they liked Robins and I am guilty of overlooking them ,so when you read this I will try to rectify that and let you know how they are doing on a regular basis .