A combination of the Mammas and the Pappas and
The Rolling Stones
with the post covering both days!
Mostly common fare across both of the last 2 days and still no sign of that first
'True Migrant'
but still early days.
As if you haven't suffered enough Gulls of late our 2 days started with an influx of
BLACK-HEADED GULLs
mostly sporting those newly acquired 'black heads'.
As we failed to attend on Sunday the first port of call was
Bournemouth International Airport
and yes more Gulls in the shape of a few
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLs
and loads of
Herrings
Additionally,
STOCK DOVES
have begun billing and cooing and prospecting the best nesting sites
within the fuselage of the redundant aircraft
Maybe surprisingly given the volume of human activity here
by a royal mile our smartest
Crow (Corvid) the
JAY
does remarkably well here.
Not however as well as their close cousin the
ROOK
who's nest site has increased in numbers anually ever since records have been kept.
The figure was 28 individual nests last year but both a little early
and too windy to conduct a count on the day.
From there it was a downward spiral as all on offer across the rest of the
Recording Area
was a noticeable increase in the number of 'healthy' looking
GREENFINCH
while the
COOT
(carrying yet more nesting material)
on the Irrigation Pond are both 'sitting' and continuing building their
nest which is already of Everest proportions!
Tuesday on the other hand was a proper early Spring-like day
apart from the continuing chill breeze and started early enough with the
long time absent callings of a
TAWNY OWL
Still under the cover of some darkness at least one
GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER
was knocking 'ten bells' out of
Oak and Fir alike
The Sun was a welcome sight, unless of course the subject matter was directly
in its path, but surely added to an almost perfect wander.
There were a brace of Eddie Stobart's half way up Chapel Lane
with both being Ladies
we had not previously encountered
Once again no change across the 2 pond or the Solar Panel Compound
for that matter, so it was not until reaching the course of the
Moors River
that a few more birds started to stimulated additional interest
CORMORANT
remain in residence here in numbers ranging from this single to c4
while this distant
GREY HERON
was a first for the month
REDWING
are still knocking about in
'tens' rather than 'hundreds'
while the few remaining overwintering
CHIFFCHAFF
are finding a new voice!
Back to Base was thought to have been the end of the day but a lone
GREEN WOODPECKER
had other ideas
as starting to forage on the tennis court
After departure we did make a little reci to see what Insects / Invertibrates
might have attracted the bird but there were none visible to this naked eye!
