Time....whoever invented it, in terms of hours, minutes, days (working variety!) etc....bah humbug to them....there just isnt enough time at the moment.....
Between trying to set up my ringing site at a local orchard, having some builders around (must be the time of year, I notice that Warren has a case of the builders too!), returning to work now that my son is at school and general house things - what time there is seems to leave little for a visit to the pits which, at most times, is in the back of my mind 'to be done'....though it certainly wasnt in my mind when I was ringing a Little Owl a couple of weeks ago!!
Anyway, enough of my excuses as I finally got to the pits (dont tell the wife! Eeek!)...bit of a mix up on work days left me a day to play with, though I knew it would be stretched with having to clean off 250 bricks ready for the reclamation man to pick them up.
0915 - 1100 bright, clear, little cloud, cold (though to be honest not that cold), dry
Arriving at Five Oak Green I jumped out the car and immediately heard Song Thrush singing as if a Spring day had arrived. House Sparrow, Starling, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove and even a Great Spotted Woodpecker joined in whilst I booted up.
Off across the orchard expecting to hear several Fieldfare, I eventually heard one (saw a couple more at the pits). Im not surprised really, this warm weather has left the ground soggy enough for worms et al so they must all be out in the fields and marshes of Kent.
....and thats when I put up, or along, a raptor....it disappeared between some trees, flying very low to the ground, gliding effortlessly....hmmm...didnt get much on it, definitely a white rump which would suggest a Harrier....it was brown...hmm...not much to go on at all really...but I will hazzard a guess at Hen Harrier....probably/possibly...!? Now...if only I had been wide awake....!
Robin, Goldfinch (a real lack of passerines today), Blackbird, Kestrel, Meadow Pipit, Green Woodpecker, Pied Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Magpie, Jay, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Wren, Jackdaw...
on the pits....
103 Coot, 14 Mute Swan, 24 Gadwall, 7 Moorhen, Tufted Duck 36, Little Grebe 4, Great Crested Grebe 4, Black Headed Gull 70+, Pochard 3, Cormorant 63, Common Gull 2, Shoveler 4, Teal 60+, Goldeneye 4 (2f 2m), Mallard 1
Hi Graham,
ReplyDeleteIts annoying having to be hovering around for the builders aint it!!
Pity about the ''maybe'' Hen Harrier, might just hang about the area for a few days if it is one ?
As you say, passerines are very thin on the ground at the moment.