Thursday 29 April 2021

Between the Showers



Channel Wagtail

Yellow x Blue-headed




Garganey

The four birds originally at Chevington have been moving between there and Druridge. The Spoonbill from last post was joined by an adult bird this week.





Reed Warbler

One of many back at Chevington.


Yellow Wagtail


Black-tailed Godwit


Iceland Gull



Barn Owl

Shame about the ugly metal ring!




Cold weather and rain showers failed to produce any notable falls of migrants. There is always tomorrow.

 

Sunday 25 April 2021

Surprise


Spoonbill

A very young looking bird. Well I know it should (it's a juvenile) but I've never seen one looking like this before.


It is the joy of patch birding to come across something  unusual or unexpected (not necessarily rare).


Whitethroat

(For some reason it makes me think of Orville?)


Bonny Linnet


Guess what I hoped this would be when I saw it in a distant field.


Summer Visitors

Blackcap (above)
Sedge Warbler (below)



Garganey

Three of the four birds present on my patch. My first for the year and the biggest surprise of the week!

 

Friday 23 April 2021

He's Back


Wheatear


Little Grebe


Grasshopper Warbler


Black-billed Grasshopper Warbler

Yes he's back. His mate has a normal coloured bill but this bird is quite striking. He has set up territory in the same place as last year.


Reed, Sedge and Grasshopper Warblers all back at East Chevington now, although not in any great numbers. Delighted also to see my first Whitethroat. In a couple of weeks I'll no doubt be cursing their never ending scratchy song.

Five Whimbrel on the patch but no sign of the dark-rumped one yet. Common and Sandwich terns also increasing in numbers.


Accentor

Well, Dunnock. Subtly marked but not so subtle when it comes to courtship and 'pairing' up.

 

Monday 19 April 2021

Settled


Several calm days. Cold starts, sunny by midday, and clear skies at night. Some birds are moving straight through e.g. Ring Ouzels and some have not appeared in any numbers so far.


Pied Wagtail



Grasshopper Warbler

Only one of these back so far on my patch.






Ruddy Shelduck

This wandering pair cause a bit of a surprise to the non-birders.



Shoveler


Why don't birds of prey simply attack and kill the pesky mobbing crows?


Willow Warbler

A lot more of this singers arrived late last week.


Song Thrush

No late mornings with one of these singing in the garden.


Dark-edged Bee-fly





Comma

Slightly worn but ready for take off.

 

Saturday 17 April 2021

Happy Days


Wren







Teal


Treecreeper


Nice 

bbbbbb


OK you got it, Bees.





My second favourite sarnies (bacon the first).




Early Morning

Whimbrel


White Wagtail

Terrific early morning collection of Wags. 

Blue-headed, Yellow (2), White, Pied but no Coleen?


Barney



Cetti's Warbler

Lucky if you get a sighting of these vocal birds.


As for several close up views, well it was my lucky day!



Heavily Cropped