Saturday 25 February 2017

Mellow Yellow - Donavan

The precursor to Storm Doris, which didn't effect us here in the south of England quite as much as elsewhere across the country, was yet another short pulse of Mothable overnight temperatures. This inspired us to activate 2 of our traps but catching only c3 Insects over 2 nights one of which was a
'first for the year' 
DARK CHESTNUT
It also seemed to induce the
DAFFODIL
(Mellow Yellow Link)
buds to burst while raising the sap in other creatures such as the
SEBASTOPOL GEESE
on Parley Pond. Also there we found another
female
WIGEON
content at the time to just graze the grass on the island.
Numbers of
MEADOW PIPIT
along with
PIED WAGTAIL
have also showed a marked increase,
and we also have a minimum of c4
GREEN SANDPIPER
across the Recording Area.
 COOT
have also more than doubled in numbers,
as there is now a pair on the Irrigation Pond with a third on the Gravel Pit.
Seen here diving for Pond Weed not only for food but as was noted last
year also a part of the breeding ritual. 3 nests were built during that period.
It is unusual for
BLACK-HEADED GULL
to alight on the ponds, so considered notable,
(except when bread is offered)
but they were soon gone!
Best find of the day was undoubtedly the appearance/return of a
LITTLE GREBE
actively feeding
and compered with others at sites such as Longham and Radipole
showing some signs of 'summer plummage'.
At a distance it was seen preening and also
 heard 'singing', we now look forward to its Mate turning up?
Back at Parley Pond the
WIGEON
had obviously received her 'sailing orders' and put to sea

getting something of a mild rebuke from one of the local male
MALLARD
but all in all seemed content enough.
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