April 2022 - The Migrants arrive

Here we have report number 5 covering April, and the great swap of the Winter bird departures and the Spring arrivals is a thrill to all birders

I have been known to make references to birding items that get reported in the Daily Telegraph, and this one challenges use of the English language.

The article refers to an Osprey returning again to a nest in a Scottish forest, and it reports that the bird has been a popular sighting “…..settling on a nest with a newly installed camera.” I hope it knows how to adjust the focus.

Wed April 13.  Birding friend Chris having generously been past the Covid infection by her husband John, meant that she was unfortunately not able to join Marion, Paul and I when we had a morning at Willington GP. Clearly we were well into migration time and I was able to add 3 species to my year list, with the 3 Hirundines, and also Blackcap, Willow Warbler (first for 2022) and a couple of Blackcaps.  It absolutely teemed down mid-morning so it was a dash for the hide but at least we had some rewards.

Good to hear that after 5 years waiting, the Ospreys at Poole harbour have laid their first egg; no doubt there will be a constant vigil to keep an eye on the egg and maybe another one or two eggs. I’ll try and keep you posted.

Chris and I had a day at Whisby on the 26^th, hoping to spot/hear a Nightingale. Sadly the trip was abortive, in fact nothing even reported in the visitors book although they have been reported on the south coast this week; the DOS has a group trip to Whisby on Sunday May 1 so hopefully they will have arrived by then. I could not join that trip as it is the same day that I am standing in for Amanda for the Carsington bird walk so hopefully the DOS walk will be more fruitful.

On the way back  from Whisby, following good advice from Mac a Carsington volunteer, I dropped in at Bramcote cemetery. Albeit Mac lives close to some woods near Ilkeston said to be good for all 3 peckers, he told me that the Bramcoat cemetery was a dead cert (!!!) for Green Peckers, so at 15.55 walking round the cemetery…. Jackpot, a nice male prospecting the grass.  How would a layman know of the location?   He is an undertaker, and clearly has time to loiter whilst funeral services are taking place. I was respectful… I did not walk round with my bins.

Wed 27^th a morning at Attenborough ( a venue you know I visit regularly) was very productive migrant-wise.

Loads of Sand Martins going in the Sand Martin bank non-stop, plus prospecting on the ground in front of the viewing hide, giving superb views of their colours. Common Terns were around and we added Blackcaps, Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs and Sedge Warblers plus one Cetti W.

So it’s 132 to date, for the first 6 months of MY year.  Now it gets harder!!

Happy birding

March 2022 Stand by for Arrivals..

It’s a compliment to be asked to lead a bird group walk once again for the Bird Watching for beginners event at Carsington. It was January 2006, 16 years ago, that I started BwB and it still continues 16 years later.

I joined the March 2022 walk, with Amanda having a good group of 16 birders. Still has it’s Firsts and excitements. On this walk we had close ups of Goldcrests, the good old Great Northern Diver, and a first for the BwB life list a pair of Red Kites which no one could miss.

Amanda is away for the next 2 walks visiting her family in the US and asked me to help, so it’s clean up the bins and go prepared on April 3^rd. I will have the help of Keith and Garry, Keith having been with me almost since day 1.

Right, Birdy bits!!

A good article in the Daily Telegraph at the start of March about Dunnocks being a good first sign of spring. The name comes from the Old English for “little brown” and they were also known as the “flutterer in the hedges” – pretty good link to the name Hedge Sparrows. The article also refers to their outrageous mating rituals, or let’s say “partner swapping” to avoid the lurid details!! (I know what those lurid details are!!!)

My birding trip with Chris and Gill at the start of March to Sherwood Forest being abortive, Mary and I decided we would give it another try. Using a slightly different route of North to South (including a free parking facility v £5) we saw nothing different on the journey to the visitor centre, but after a good snack on the return walk we found the seed that I had put on a feeding station brought the reward of a Marsh Tit.

Later in the month, not only did I get a better view of the Great Northern Diver at Carsington, but two Common Scoter bobbing on the water off Stones Island was a nice tick.

Finally whilst birding was very relaxed whilst we were in Exmouth, a walk round Seaton Marshes ticked a Greenshank, and even more pleasurable, a Robin taking seed from my hand.   

So it’s 118 to date (59% sounds better!)

Not much for March, but roll on April - the serious arrival time.

Happy birding