15 new birds in April, with some decent migrants too!
My first visit was on the 6th and the Wigeon numbers had dropped to 23, but there were 22 Teal present and the increasingly regular Gadwall pair also. Singing Skylarks and Chiffchaffs (4) were a refreshing sound.
My visit on the 7th was much the same but with the Shelduck pair back and 2 Little-ringed Plovers and a displaying pair of Lapwings. A Snipe was a nice surprise after a month long absence from the Puddle. A flock of 90 Meadow Pipits matched the national trend with a big movement across the whole country.
Only 40 odd Meadow Pipits flew over on the 8th, some landing in the rough grass, and among them a heard only Tree Pipit (76). 4 Little-ringed Plover, 2 Lapwing and 2 Curlew (77) were at the Puddle at dusk and 2 Swallows were drinking (78)
(Curlew Photo)
A trip to Somerset meant my next visit to patch was not until the 13th, when I scored another 2 ticks for the year, a single singing Willow Warbler (79) and a lovely Yellow Wagtail (80). Wildfowl included 2 Shelducks, 4 Gadwall, 5 Mallard and 3 Shoveler. Looks the Wigeon are gone for the year.
The Curlew pair again came into roost as did a single Little-ringed Plover. Up to 10 Swallows now flying round,
(Yellow Wag Photo)
On the 15th I took a walk down the public footpath from Clifton towards Clifton Lakes, passing through some hillside sheep fields, and it paid off with a Wheatear (81) 300 yards down the path. A small pool to the right of the path had 5 Sand Martins (82) and a similar number of Swallows flying over it. Clifton Lakes itself produced a singing Reed Warbler (83), another Wheatear and 3 Snipe. Yellowhammer and Reed Buntings were numerous and singing constantly. I finally found 3 Linnets (84), which disappeared around October last year, I didn't even realise it was a tick until I was entering my records on BirdTrack.
The 16th was easily the best day on patch so far, with 4 new birds for the year. 61 species in total, and the star bird of the year so far!
A 6am start was called for as I was determined to find something decent with influx of migrants such as Hoopoes and Ring Ouzels into Britain as inspiration. It was grey and damp but I was still hopeful. After checking the Puddle and finding a Little-ringed Plover and the years first Green Sandpiper (85) I headed off to the horse fields thinking I'd peaked already. As I climbed over a gate, a black bird hoped up onto a felled tree/horse jump 20 yards in front of me. Turning to face me, it had a bright white chest band!! It then flew out of sight and I spent 5 minutes scanning every hedgerow I could see before picking it up at the top of a rather tall tree. After snapping a few photos I put the news out, and let my self smile and enjoyed watching the bird clack from his high perch. Ring Ouzel (86)!!
I nipped back to the puddle before heading to work where I saw the first Whitethroat (87) of the year, and a trip back to Clifton Lakes that evening produced a Little Owl (second patch record) and 2 singing Sedge Warblers (88) as well as another 2 snipe, a Reed Warbler and another Whitethroat.
A quick after work visit on the 17th failed to refind the Ring Ouzel which probably moved off the previous day, but a Common Sandpiper was on the Puddle (89) along with a Little-ringed Plover, 2 Shelduck and 6 Swallows. Up to 8 singing Chiffchaffs and at least 2 singing Willow Warblers as well.
The Shelduck pair were present again on the 20th, chasing off a single mallard. A Green Sandpiper and 2 Little-ringed Plovers were mobile, feeding round the rather high edges of the Puddle. 3 House Martins (90) flew over head amongst 15+ Swallows. A Heron was the first for a month and two Mistle Thrushes feeding taking food to a nest was good to see.
(Heron Pic)
No more ticks for rest of Month but refound the Ouzel on the 23rd and 24th
Better Yellow Wagtails, at least 3 on the 23rd, also a pair of Oystercatchers,
My visit on the 7th was much the same but with the Shelduck pair back and 2 Little-ringed Plovers and a displaying pair of Lapwings. A Snipe was a nice surprise after a month long absence from the Puddle. A flock of 90 Meadow Pipits matched the national trend with a big movement across the whole country.
Only 40 odd Meadow Pipits flew over on the 8th, some landing in the rough grass, and among them a heard only Tree Pipit (76). 4 Little-ringed Plover, 2 Lapwing and 2 Curlew (77) were at the Puddle at dusk and 2 Swallows were drinking (78)
(Curlew Photo)
A trip to Somerset meant my next visit to patch was not until the 13th, when I scored another 2 ticks for the year, a single singing Willow Warbler (79) and a lovely Yellow Wagtail (80). Wildfowl included 2 Shelducks, 4 Gadwall, 5 Mallard and 3 Shoveler. Looks the Wigeon are gone for the year.
The Curlew pair again came into roost as did a single Little-ringed Plover. Up to 10 Swallows now flying round,
(Yellow Wag Photo)
On the 15th I took a walk down the public footpath from Clifton towards Clifton Lakes, passing through some hillside sheep fields, and it paid off with a Wheatear (81) 300 yards down the path. A small pool to the right of the path had 5 Sand Martins (82) and a similar number of Swallows flying over it. Clifton Lakes itself produced a singing Reed Warbler (83), another Wheatear and 3 Snipe. Yellowhammer and Reed Buntings were numerous and singing constantly. I finally found 3 Linnets (84), which disappeared around October last year, I didn't even realise it was a tick until I was entering my records on BirdTrack.
The 16th was easily the best day on patch so far, with 4 new birds for the year. 61 species in total, and the star bird of the year so far!
A 6am start was called for as I was determined to find something decent with influx of migrants such as Hoopoes and Ring Ouzels into Britain as inspiration. It was grey and damp but I was still hopeful. After checking the Puddle and finding a Little-ringed Plover and the years first Green Sandpiper (85) I headed off to the horse fields thinking I'd peaked already. As I climbed over a gate, a black bird hoped up onto a felled tree/horse jump 20 yards in front of me. Turning to face me, it had a bright white chest band!! It then flew out of sight and I spent 5 minutes scanning every hedgerow I could see before picking it up at the top of a rather tall tree. After snapping a few photos I put the news out, and let my self smile and enjoyed watching the bird clack from his high perch. Ring Ouzel (86)!!
I nipped back to the puddle before heading to work where I saw the first Whitethroat (87) of the year, and a trip back to Clifton Lakes that evening produced a Little Owl (second patch record) and 2 singing Sedge Warblers (88) as well as another 2 snipe, a Reed Warbler and another Whitethroat.
The Shelduck pair were present again on the 20th, chasing off a single mallard. A Green Sandpiper and 2 Little-ringed Plovers were mobile, feeding round the rather high edges of the Puddle. 3 House Martins (90) flew over head amongst 15+ Swallows. A Heron was the first for a month and two Mistle Thrushes feeding taking food to a nest was good to see.
(Heron Pic)
No more ticks for rest of Month but refound the Ouzel on the 23rd and 24th
Better Yellow Wagtails, at least 3 on the 23rd, also a pair of Oystercatchers,
