Sunday 23 February 2014

A Proper Dawn Chorus

Yesterday, as I walked down to the estuary at first light there was a proper dawn chorus leading to a cacophony of bird song; magic! Members of this bird band all on lead vocals were Goldfinch, Blue Tit, Greenfinch, Wren, Chaffinch, Blackbird, Robin, Great Tit, Woodpigeon, Dunnock, Song Thrush and Reed Bunting. Spring is indeed in the air!

Other than the magical bird song the walk down to the estuary was fairly uneventful. I'd also mistimed the tide and there was more water in the river than I expected leading to a dearth of dabbling wildfowl. I had three hundred Golden Plovers on the estuary and that was probably the only thing of note.

On the reservoir were 23 Tufted Ducks, six Coots, a Great Crest Grebe, seven Goldeneyes, five Pochards and a Little Grebe.

 Seven Goldeneyes

Male Goldeneye

Male Tufted Duck

It was a fairly quiet walk back to the car with only four Stock Doves to add to my notebook. I then picked Gail up and took her for her annual treat of willow planting at the obs. We planted up an existing ride and then planted up a new net ride where I will target Meadow Pipits during the spring and autumn, if the wind ever stops blowing! Next week will be another treat for Gail, carrying out our annual maintenance check on Pied Flycatcher and Tree Sparrow boxes. What a lucky girl!

 Gail 'enjoying' (?) her treat at the Obs!

2 comments:

Gordon said...

Interesting read,I think the wild life can read the weather better than we can, and are telling us, that a long last change is on the way. I hear the first Wheatears have been seen down South.
all the best Gordon.

The Hairy Birder said...

Thanks Gordon. That's good news re the Wheatears. I usually expect ours round about 12th March.

Cheers,

Seumus