....was my thought when I got out of the car....scope...at home.....camera....at home....I suppose I can count myself lucky I had my binoculars....doh!
Whilst driving the few minutes in the car to Five Oak Green there was a discussion on the radio (Radio Sussex...I know, I live in Kent but its one of the stations programmed in to the stereo)....they were talking about the expansion of airports and it was nice to hear an aviation 'expert' from Gatwick say that the Thames estuary was not the place to build a new airport and that Heathrow was the only realistic choice....and at least wildlife got a mention...this is the second time in a week I have heard that the estuary isnt the place to build..
...anyway...Blackbird, Song Thrush and Robin, the usual three were now joined by the now usual 4, Cockerel, somewhere off to the West of the village, whilst booting up....back to wellies....off across a slightly noisier orchard, guessing that several birds are going for a second opportunity for nesting it would appear that some Blackbirds have moved in to the orchard, so a little song was welcome...Cuckoo called from somewhere way South, quite distant. It gradually worked its way round to the West of the site and eventually gave up calling altogether by 0500...
Out across the fields Skylark wasnt found till I had nearly reached the pits....this is a little disturbing as I reckon their numbers here have drastically reduced in the past few weeks due to the farm work in the fields....that'll be those caretakers of the countryside..
Blackcap, Wren, Whitethroat, Yellowhammer and Chiffchaff were in song at the pits with Woodpigeon joining in, Coot cooted. Mute Swans were in number on several of the pis with Tufted Duck. A Heron glided past. Great Crested Grebes chased each other around.
There is still no sign of any chicks on the water despite all these birds being present, even Mallards seem to have failed to produce anything?
Chaffinch and Nightingale made vocal appearances whilst I walked round the western edge of the site and I managed to somehow creep up on a Pheasant that sprang a surprise and frightened the wotsits out of me! Great Tit, Crow, Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker, Garden Warbler, Sedge and Reed Warbler all trotted out their song. I managed to startle a Barn Owl, screaming away in to the distance. Lesser Whitethroat has moved home by about 100 metres though I know not why.
There was plenty of Jay action around the site and a solitary Lesser Black Back Gull loomed over. Magpie and Feral \Pigeon surveyed the Jackdaws in the field at the quarry. The usual Linnet crew rushed around.
27 Greylag Geese flew in to the pits and a Turtle Dove purred admiringly, though secretly.
There were around 20 Swift and 20 House Martin over the pits by this time. The only breeding success I can point to at this time would be the Starling family that has nested near a big Oak, one adult and five juveniles flew out of the tree and settled in the reeds. Blue Tit squeeked and a Cormorant flew over. 3 Black-headed Gulls were on the posts in the pits.
Returning across the fields a Pied Wagtail flew North. Goldfinch, Collared Dove and House Sparrow appeared at the apple yard.....
Finished by 0800...looking bright and sunny....
Warbler count
Blackcap 19
Whitethroat 17 (down again from the last count!)
Lesser Whitethroat 1
Chiffchaff 15
Nightingale 1 out west, 4 or 5 on site singing (where have all the others gone - may have stopped singing already)
Garden Warbler 2, possibly 3
Yellowhammer - I know, not a warbler - 5
Dont you just hate it when those Pheasants do that!
ReplyDeleteLots of songsters already finishing up here Graham, not that they ever got going to any extent this spring!
Great account Graham plenty going on there :-)
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