Four more first migrants for me on Wednesday all seen at Cockersand, with a trickle of 12 Swallow through, and on one occasion accompanied by a single House Martin. A Sedge Warbler was singing in the hedgerow, and 4 Whimbrel on the shore.
A Shoveler pair were in the wide ditch at the junction of Moss/Slack Lane. I've seen the Shoveler here in previous years. Three Skylark seen, one in flight song, two flew off a fence post in front of me, A Linnet was in song by the caravan park, and 72 Black-tailed Godwit were feeding on the tideline. I saw just two butterflies, a Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell.
Up to 12 Lapwing were on territory in the stubble field behind Lighthouse Cottage, one bird drew my attention alarm calling, and as I looked over the gate it soon became apparent why....
On Conder Pool, I made a peak count of 28 Avocet including two in the creeks, where the near summer plumage Spotted Redshank was with a Greenshank. Also of note, 2 Little Ringed Plover, with 54 Black-tailed Godwit and a similar number of Knot still here.
I was more than grateful to receive a message to tell me of the arrival of the Common Tern on Conder Pool Thursday 23 April. This date is 3 days later than last year 20 April 2025....Thanks to Pete Crooks for the info and for adding that John Wood had found 2 Common Tern before he had seen one later in the afternoon.
River Lune At Glasson. Pete Woodruff.
At low tide, the estuary resembled a desert save the channel, where 14 Eider were diving, a decent count for the location.
Friday 24 April.
The highlight of a circuit of Birk Bank has to be the 2 Cuckoo heard, one in the Birk Bank area east of the bog, the second to the east of Cragg Wood. Thanks to Marc Heath who found a Cuckoo at Bishopstone on 11 April, seen as an early bird and scarce too in this area of Kent.
There was some excellent birds to run a close second to the Cuckoos, with a good count of 42 Willow Warbler, then marked as seen in the little black book, Blackcap pair, 2 Treecreeper including one sunbathing at the base of a tree, a Wren and Robin, 6 Redpoll, 2 Chiffchaff, 6 Swallow, a Coal Tit, 2 Garden Warbler, Song Thrush, 2 Mistle Thrush, 2 Linnet, 2 Meadow Pipit, and 3 Stonechat which were seen as a pair and a male which was probably standing guard over a nest site, and so almost certainly making 2 pairs of Stonechat. Raptors seen were, a Buzzard and Sparrowhawk.
Green Tiger Beetle. Pete Woodruff.
Other than the birds....A quite surprising number of 14 Green Tiger Beetle, 2 Common Lizard, neither of which were associated with Birk Bank bog, in fact one was at Ottergear Bridge. Butterflies seen, 12 Orange Tip, 4 Green Hairstreak, 2 Peacock, a Speckled Wood and Small Tortoiseshell.
Target of the day was to find some early damsels, 3 Large Red Damselfly were seen as a male and 2 teneral.
Garden Bees.
The bees in our garden started to emerge from the Bee House this week.
It's a joy to watch the antics of the Red&Blue Mason Bees in and out of the holes in good number.
Some nice pictures and video there Pete.
ReplyDeleteGood to hear that things are getting better with the warmer weather. The cold nights though seem to be keeping my moths quiet so not much improvement on that front.
Good read thanks.
Ian Mitchell
Thanks for this Ian. I reckon you would be pleased to hear about my encounter with two Common Lizard!
DeleteRegards....Pete.
Great report. I am especially pleased to see the Lapwing. It is one of my favourite shorebirds and on recent visits to Europe over the past few years seems to have declined substantially. I have heard the cuckoo in the UK but have never seen one, having to wait for a visit to South Africa for the pleasure.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the 'great report' David, much appreciated. Not sure about accuracy regarding the general decline of the Lapwing, but in Lancashire it is regarded to be a common breeder, but decreasing winter visitor. You can actually see the Lapwing in numbers like 'a couple of thousand' at the location in this post 'River Lune at Glasson'.
ReplyDeleteThanks for looking in David....Pete.