The Bagsy Blog: 04/30/16

Saturday, 30 April 2016

Sunday, Bloody Sunday - U2

Or perhaps that should read

Sunday, Bloody 'GOOD' Sunday
THIS POST REFERS TO 'LAST' SUNDAY
while tomorrow, not just a Sunday but also May Day,
will be given over to a Mini Bird Race
(or TWITCH if you prefer)

With the wind still sticking doggedly in the northern quarter, albeit with a larger western component than of late, it's surprising there is anything about but on Sunday we seemed to do very well. Still wrapped up against the chill it was the Moth Traps which first produced a modicum of interest with

POWDERED QUAKER

being 'first' for the year

as is

NUT-TREE TUSSOCK

With a continued threat of rain it was thought best to get the

skates on and pay an overdue visit to this beat of the

River Stour.

Dividends indeed as first up was the presumed same

CETTI'S WARBLER

which was first located during the visit of Dave Penney.

Never wise to be too presumptuous as soon after a second was

located on song much further up the river.

No mistaking the next chattering sound coming from what can hardly

be described as a reed-bed, a tiny patch no more than 10 feet x 3,

but an annual catchment for

REED WARBLER

added to the Year List.

Seriously boggy ground still prevents wanderings to the western

boundary of the property, but the 'about turn' was profitable

throwing up a previously 'silent'

SEDGE WARBLER

in company with

this female (no male detected)

REED BUNTING

All of these species had been hoped for, as expected to arrive

at any time now,

but to get the full Hat Trick of additions to the

Year List was considered a bonus indeed with

LESSER WHITETHROAT

joining what was now rapidly becoming a throng!

Heading for the Common and deciding to do things in

reverse order, for no other reason than a change, we

bumped into this industrious

SONG THRUSH

gathering nesting material at the Puddle of Mud close to the

Sewerage Works

"what a delight"!

The 2 main watercourses were next where, at the Irrigation Pond, the Coot remains transfixed at the nest while a loan Swallow hawked insects above, so little reason to linger. At the Gravel Pit, among a cacophony of bird song, just 2 stood out predominantly, that of