April 2009

The influence of an Atlantic high produced a settled start to the month, mainly dry with overcast days interspersed with sunny ones, when the temperature crept into the high teens. From the 8th low pressure systems exerted their influence, bringing variable, unsettled conditions, including strong winds and rain, but also sunny periods, with a wide range in temperatures, reaching 22°C on the 15th. A zone of high pressure spread over the British Isles from the 19th, bringing more settled weather, with above average temperatures, once the cold northeast wind dropped. A cold front that moved northeast on the 25th dropped the temperature to the mid-teens and brought a few light showers.

The 1st was warm and sunny by the afternoon, though a chilly, northerly wind blew for much of the day that became misty for a while soon after dawn. Two Tawny Owls hooted and at least three Little Owls called before dawn and later the Barn Owl was perched near the nestbox in the barn. Two Grey Herons flew NW and one NE, four pairs of Tufted Duck had returned to the lake but gulls were represented by just four Herring Gulls – three S and one N. A Nuthatch called from a fourth territory, two more Chiffchaffs had arrived, four Linnets were present in the Spindlewood orchard and of the eight Chiffchaffs heard two were newcomers in different territories. A LS Woodpecker drummed and seven Redwings were seen in a total of just 43 species up until 9.am.

The influence of an Atlantic high produced a settled start to the month.

It was less spring-like on the 2nd, overcast, dull and misty, with a chilly northeasterly still blowing. Four Little Grebes were seen on the lake and in addition to the four pairs of Tufted Duck there, two pairs visited the reservoir for a while. A pair of Grey Wagtails, that fed in the marsh briefly, was a pleasurable sight - the first since Jan 3rd - a flock of 17 Linnets was seen in the Spindlewood orchard, seven Fieldfares and five Redwings were also seen.

After a sunny and warm afternoon the 3rd dawned overcast, still and foggy, when a lone Tawny Owl hooted and at least three Little Owls called. The density of the fog increased for a while but thinned by 8.30am. A brood of 12 Mallard ducklings followed 'mum' across the reservoir, a particularly early date, when the mean is Apr 27th and only two days later than the earliest in 1988. A LS Woodpecker was watched as it drummed and called from an oak near the spruce copse, a Blackcap sang nearby, five Fieldfares and two Redwings flew into the Deer Park and a cock Pied Wagtail was seen south of Bishop’s Wood by Peens Lane. The sun almost broke through the high cloud in the late afternoon but a visit didn’t produce any identifiable butterflies, just a fleeting glimpse of a smallish one that flew into the sun and disappeared along the bank of the reservoir. However, two cock Siskins were seen preening high in poplars on the west of the poplar wood and several photographs were taken, including the one above and of a strange fungi, as well as a couple of unidentified bees and several spring flowers.

The 4th was overcast and dull, with a light southwest wind and fine drizzle at times. A Bar-headed Goose visited the reservoir, where the brood of 12, or possibly 13, Mallard ducklings was still present. Two and one LBB Gulls flew N and a large flock of 57 BH Gulls with two calling adult Mediterranean Gulls flew rapidly SW – I’d estimated about 40, attempted to get a photograph, which happens to show 59 birds in the flock! You'll have to believe me.

A later flock of 18 gulls flying line abreast disappeared over the northern boundary trees before being identified with any certainty. Four Herring Gulls also flew SW towards the end of my visit. A pair of Kestrels in the Deer Park was seen to copulate, an immature male and another female, near the reservoir, were also seen. The Blackcap continued to sing just northwest of the spruce coppice and nearby a Chiffchaff also sang – the tenth territory to date. Of the winter visitors just two Redwings were seen. The sun shone for a brief afternoon visit, when a Coma was seen and either a Green-veined or Small White was also seen.

The sun shone throughout the first breeding bird survey on the 5th, when a light east-southeast wind blew. Some of the sweet chestnut coppice in the northwest corner had been cut and the Peens Lane arable had been harrowed. The highlight of the visit came at 9.45am, when a Common Buzzard circled over the church and drifted W along the Greensand Ridge. One Grey Heron flew SE, a total of 13 Herring Gulls flew over in various directions and a LS Woodpecker continued to drum. The survey produced totals of 28 Robins, 25 Wrens but only three Dunnocks, 12 Song Thrushes, seven Chiffchaffs and two Blackcaps, but no other summer visitors. Very few Chaffinches were singing and only 18 were recorded.

Time spent walking through the anemone clad, mature sweet chestnut woodland confirmed that this type of habitat attracts few species in winter or summer, as there is virtually no understorey.

In contrast again, the 6th was overcast, with just occasional breaks in the cloud and little wind during the visit, though it became sunny and warm later. Sadly, only four Mallard ducklings appeared to have survived on the reservoir so far and a pair of Tufted Duck was seen there briefly, with three pairs on the lake, where one of the Canada Geese pair was sitting on a nest on the island. Also, the Bar-headed Goose had returned with its almost daily companion a Barnacle Goose, which it is now acceptable to count. Blackcaps sang from the damson hedge just below Spindlewood and north of the Old Vicarage again, but no other new migrants were noted.

It remained dry and mainly overcast during the visit on the 7th, when a light southwesterly slowly increased in strength. A lone Cormorant flew SE and the only gull was a graellsii Lesser Black-backed which circled over as it drifted NE. At the reservoir only one Mallard duckling remained but a drake Mandarin – the first this year – circled over and disappeared to the south. Jackdaws appeared to be building in the Kestrel nestbox and one of the lake pair of Coot was sitting on a nest on the island. There was frustration as a probable House Martin flew rapidly S, as it was too distant to be 100% sure of the identification. The Peens Lane arable had been sown, attracting some 30 Jackdaws, 20 or more Woodpigeons and twos and threes of Stock Doves, Magpies, Rooks, Carrion Crows and at least 15 Yellowhammers. Also five Jays flew towards Bishop’s Wood.

A wet front cleared towards the end of the early visit on the 8th, when a moderate to strong southwest wind blew. Numbers of Tufted Duck on the lake had increased to eight pairs, at the reservoir a duck Mallard attracted the attentions of five drakes and five gull species were noted flying over, including a total of nine Herring NW and two SW, five Black-headed and a lone Common SW, a graellsii Lesser Black-backed NE and two GBB Gulls NW. A male LS Woodpecker drummed in an oak east of the marsh but relatively little song was heard, though three ‘stormcocks’ performed well. By noon it was sunny and warm and at 11pm a full moon shone from a starry sky.

Early on the 9th it was overcast, still and foggy, particularly so over the ridge. However, a light drizzle commenced around 8.30am and the fog lifted. A pair of Tufted Duck visited the reservoir briefly and five pairs were seen on the lake, beside which a Treecreeper sang. A hen and two cock Siskins fed in a Deer Park larch and a few phrases of Blackcap song emanated from another larch. Blackcaps also sang from Bishop’s Wood and by the fishermen’s car park again, and a presumed migrant Chiffchaff flew from the poplar wood across the Peens Lane arable, to which at least a dozen Yellowhammers and a cock Reed Bunting flew from the adjacent hedgerow. A Jackdaw continues to build a nest in the Kestrel’s box – why do they allow it?

It was sunny and warm, with clouds drifting slowly northwest early on the 10th, when the unlikely pair of a Bar-headed and a  Barnacle Goose grazed on the reservoir arable before flying off and there was an obvious increase in the numbers of Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs singing from new traditional territories. A total of four Grey Herons flew NW, the three Siskins were still present and a male Sparrowhawk flew E over the reservoir, followed in quick succession by two females. Later four Common Buzzards circled over Boughton Place, as they drifted south over the Deer Park, and five butterfly species were identified: Small and Green-veined Whites, Peacock, Comma and Orange Tip. The call of a wader flying NE, heard by Duncan Priestley, was that of a Greenshank, a new addition to the year list.

It was interesting to see how the slime fungus Enteridium lycoperus above, photographed on Apr 3rd, had changed to a powdery brown, below, by the 9th.

The rain eased around 8.30am on the 11th but further showers followed after noon, otherwise it was mainly cloudy and misty, with only occasional sunny breaks during the visit. The earliest ever Common Whitethroat sang from the reservoir bank and the first two Swallows flew S, three days later than their mean date. Five Greylag Geese flew E but two Herring Gulls SW were the only other species seen flying over. A flock of about 120 Woodpigeons flew from the newly seeded Peens Lane arable and at least 12 Yellowhammers were still present there. A LS Woodpecker was heard calling and drumming from three different localities and a Ring Ouzel-like call was heard but frustratingly not confirmed.

A brief late afternoon visit, when the sun shone for a while, produced just one Peacock butterfly but the Woodpigeon flock had returned to feed on the Peens Lane arable, where some 120 Jackdaws, 20 Rooks and 10 Carrion Crows were also feeding.

It was misty and overcast early on the 12th, when a chilly northerly breeze blew but it brightened up later. A Canada Goose was sitting on the traditional island nest and two separated geese swam on the reservoir, but three hours later just the pair remained, with neither bird on the nest. A male Sparrowhawk flew towards Darnold’s Wood and about 100 Woodpigeons fed on the Peens Lane arable again. The highlight of the visit was hearing delightful phrases of song from a migrant Willow Warbler – number 85 for the year – which frequented a lakeside alder, until a Treecreeper decided it was his tree and chased it away. A female Sparrowhawk flew slowly over the lake, almost launching into a display flight, but not quite, and the first Early Purple Orchids were in flower in Bishop’s Wood.

The weather was still, misty and dry, with an overcast sky during the census on the 13th, brightening a little late morning, but without any sunny periods until the afternoon. It proved to be an extremely productive eight-and-a-half-hour session, with just Sparrowhawk and Bullfinch missed in a high totals of 56 species and 598 birds – four and eight higher than their respective means. But for pigeon shooters on the Peens Lane arable, the bird total would probably have been higher. Welcome additions included two Greylag Geese flying E, one Cormorant SE, two single Grey Herons S, a lone Lapwing SW – my first since early January – three GBB Gulls N, my first Cuckoo for the year, a Swallow visiting the reservoir, a Grey Wagtail flying NE, another Common Whitethroat and two Goldcrests, which were just the second sighting this month. There were also some high counts for breeding residents, including 33 Wrens, 18 Dunnocks, 32 Robins, 34 Blackbirds and 52 Blue Tits. A Tawny Owl hooted around 5.15am and both Barn and Little Owls were seen, one Herring and two LBB Gulls also flew over, a LS Woodpecker drummed, eight Blackcaps and eight Chiffchaffs sang, two Coal Tits, a lone Treecreeper and a cock Reed Bunting were also noted.

It was brighter early on the 14th, with a southeasterly breeze but a blanket of cloud covered the area before the end of my visit. A monthly peak total of 22 Tufted Duck comprised eight pairs on the lake and a pair on the reservoir, onto which three drakes and a duck dropped down later. A flock of 17 BH Gulls flew S and a cock and two hen Bullfinches were seen but there were no other additions to the census list. A total of 38 Herring Gulls flew over, including flocks of 20 E and 12 N. A Common Whitethroat sang from various points along the northern bank of the reservoir but no other new migrants were noted; however it was a bonus to see and hear three Treecreepers in different territories.

After stormy weather with rain overnight, there were variable conditions, with a cool northeasterly wind during an early visit on the 15th, when the sun occasionally broke through the clouds. It proved to be a quiet visit, with no new summer visitors, apart from two single Swallows flying N. However, a flock of 13 Goldfinches may have arrived from the south. Two single Grey Herons flew SE, no gulls were seen but a pair of Little Grebes on the lake appeared to have built a nest by the island. 

The temperature reached 22°C during a sunny afternoon visit, when four butterfly species were identified, notably a number of Orange Tips and Peacocks, along with two Speckled Woods and a Green-veined White. On the Peens Lane barley field, it was just possible to count 40 Carrion Crows and 15 Rooks before they took off with good numbers of Jackdaws; at least 60 Woodpigeons, a few Stock Doves and probably 12 or more Yellowhammers were also present. The only other addition for the day were four BH Gulls, that flew N, but another Grey Heron flew from the reservoir bank.

The sky was mainly cloud-covered during the visit on the 16th, when it rained a little. The reservoir attracted a pair of Tufted Duck and a Grey Heron; another two flew high SE and a flock of 19 Herring Gulls circled low over the patch before dropping onto a field to the southeast. Later four Herring, one graellsii Lesser Black-backed and two GBB Gulls flew N and three Cormorants NE. A flock of about 100 corvids, which was again feeding on the barley field, comprised approximately 50 Carrion Crows, 30 Rooks and 20 Jackdaws. Three of the crows displayed partial albinism, one with almost pure white wings, and a flock of about 30 Stock Doves was also present. Only one Little Grebe was visible on the lake and there was no obvious nest! One Common Whitethroat sang and six Linnets flew SE from the Spindlewood orchard but relatively few passerines were noted in the damp conditions.

Heavy rain fell overnight and light rain fell throughout an early morning visit on the 17th, when a cool northerly wind slowly increased. A Grey Heron flew down to the reservoir again, just one Herring Gull flew N, a Cuckoo called from the direction of the Deer Park and, as expected, few passerines were seen or heard, though one Swallow flew high NW.

The 18th commenced overcast and misty, with a cold northerly breeze. The pair of Little Grebes at the lake was busy building their nest and there were five drake and four duck Tufted Duck present. A small movement of gulls comprised totals of nine Herring and five LBB Gulls N and a lone graellsii E. The corvid flock moved between the reservoir paddock and both sides of Peens Lane, on the fields of seeded barley, and at least 40 Carrion Crows were noted. Two Common Whitethroats sang, one from a fifth traditional territory and these two fungi species - above and below - were photographed.

It was almost cloudless during an afternoon visit, when a moderate northeast wind still felt cold. However, it was interesting to see a Cowslip in flower, as the last ones seen here were in the late 1980s. Several Orange Tips also provided good photographic opportunities and while putting a zoom lens for my ED50 through its paces – most impressive – a lone Lapwing and a Swallow flew NW.

Walking along the southern bank of the reservoir, early on the 19th, it felt more like the Arctic, with a bitterly cold, strong northerly wind blowing, under an overcast sky – maybe the Bar-headed and Barnacle Goose felt at home!

However, there was a surprise awaiting when I returned about three hours later, a Lesser Whitethroat was singing from the island – the third earliest date in the twenty-five years and a week earlier than the mean. At least four single Swallows battled NW, three more were present around Gravitt’s Cottage and at least eight Blackcaps sang well, but few other passerines performed with such abandon. At least 100 corvids visited the Peens Lane barley field, where a flock of 14 Stock Doves was also feeding. The female Kestrel was perched on the lower barn again, could she be planning to retrieve her nest box from the Jackdaws?   

The wind had dropped and the high cloud was broken during the visit on the 20th but the improved conditions didn’t produce any new migrant species, though a total of seven Swallows flew NW and a pair had returned to Gravitt’s Cottage. The Barn Owl, not seen perching outside the nest box for a week, may be on eggs, the first ‘well protected’ Moorhen’s nest with eggs was seen at the lake and a LS Woodpecker drummed in what might be a possible breeding area, just west of the lower barn.   

The 21st dawned cloudless, still and cool but it soon became very warm as the sun rose. Five Tufted Duck on the reservoir presumably flew to the lake, three single Cormorants flew in different directions, as did two lone Grey Herons, and a female Sparrowhawk flew low E just to the south of the reservoir. Later, a Cuckoo called as it flew low W a little to the north of the reservoir, where a pair of Reed Buntings had reappeared. At least five Swallows flew NW in ones and twos and two Common Whitethroats sang from traditional territories. Bob also saw an early Large Red Damselfly.  

The settled weather continued, with warm sunny conditions and a light northeasterly breeze on the 22nd, when the first Skylark of the month sang continuously as it flew ENE north of the reservoir. A female Sparrowhawk displayed a little as she flew into the poplar wood, two pairs of Common Whitethroats appeared to be disputing territories below Tanyard and a pair of Linnets, the male in song, was present at the northern end of the Spindlewood orchard. One Black-headed, two graellsii Lesser Black-backed and a total of 28 Herring Gulls flew N, and two graellsii LBB Gulls also flew S. A brief visit during the extremely warm afternoon revealed that the Large Red Damselfly was still present and there were opportunities to photograph Speckled Wood and Orange Tip butterflies, as well as Ghost Carp, swimming just below the water’s surface, with some 25 other carp.

Only brief late-morning visits were possible, following farm and Breeding Bird Surveys on the 23rd, when a light southeast wind blew under high, hazy cloud. A Lesser Whitethroat sang from a traditional Peens Lane territory and a Barn Owl was again perched by the nest box. However, it turned out to be a most frustrating visit. As Bob arrived he saw a large raptor flying N over the reservoir, managed to get a brief look at it, once he'd left his car, thought it more like a Honey Buzzard than anything else but couldn't be sure and I joined him about ten minutes later! At around 11am, while looking at some high-flying gulls, Bob picked up a falcon, which must have been about half-a-kilometre distant and sadly, never came any closer. It simply circled, slowly moving E and showed characteristic proportions, shape and colour that indicated it was a Red-footed Falcon: it certainly wasn’t a Kestrel or a Hobby, the two species we might have expected to see, but at that range and without a telescope I can only say 99% certain – two raptors that got away in about thirty minutes.

It was fine, sunny and warm on the 24th, with an almost cloudless sky and a light southeasterly breeze. The Lesser Whitethroat continued to sing from its Peens Lane territory, two single Sparrowhawks flew into the poplar wood complex, where a pair bred successfully in 2000, and the lake had attracted 10 drake Tufted Duck, but only four duck could be seen. The highlight of the visit was seeing two Whimbrel flying fairly low NE over the reservoir, five days earlier than their mean date and number 88 for the year. This is five below the end of April mean, which should be possible to exceed in the next six days. Bob added House Martin, as one flew northeast on the 25th, when a cold front passed northwest bringing some light showers. A male LS Woodpecker drummed for some while from his favoured post by the Peens Lane bend, and two Skylarks called as they flew NE. Numbers of duck on the lake had increased to 10 drake and seven duck Tufted Duck, and another pair flew onto the reservoir, where it was interesting to see a Little Grebe. The Bar-headed Goose fed alone on the reservoir arable and a pair of Greylag Geese circled low over the reservoir. Later, while we scanned the sky, Bob noticed an early Hairy Dragonfly, which whipped by in the increasingly strong southerly wind. 

The sky was almost cloudless for much of the early visit o the 26th and only a light southerly wind blew. The star performers were two Common Sandpipers, a week earlier than the mean date, that were attracted to the reservoir’s muddy fringes, and three Common Buzzards, that circled high over the Deer Park for a while before gliding off S.

A Sparrowhawk flew E from the poplar wood and another circled high, drifting N from Bishop’s Wood, when the buzzards appeared. The LS Woodpecker drummed again, both Common Whitethroat and Chiffchaff were seen carrying nesting material and the pair of Coal Tits in the northern pines appeared to be actively collecting food.

On the 27th, there were sunny periods soon after 6am, with a light southerly breeze. However, the wind slowly veered southwest, bringing increasing cloud cover and light rain by 9am. A male LS Woodpecker continued to drum on his favoured post, but moved to a nearby oak before drumming for a third time near the southern end of the rarity hedge. The first female Blackcap was seen in a Peens Lane bramble thicket and later a Lesser Whitethroat sang from the ‘Tanyard’ territory. A lone GC Grebe was present on the reservoir - only the second this year - where the Little Grebe was also seen again and a pair of Greylag Geese called noisily as they circled low overhead. Later, a Cormorant flew from the reservoir and a male Sparrowhawk spread his undertail coverts a little as he flew over the poplar wood.

Thick fog limited visibility from 6.15am on the 28th for nearly three hours, but a Lesser Whitethroat sang from the Peens Lane hedgerow near Bishop’s Wood, the LS Woodpecker drummed again and three species were seen carrying food to their respective nestlings, Coal Tit, Blue Tit and Treecreeper. A pair of Greylag Geese was not welcomed by the resident lake Canada Goose gander. Once the fog had lifted a Little Grebe could still be seen on the reservoir but there was no sign of the Great Crested and virtually nothing was seen flying over, apart from three BH Gulls SW. Mary Tuckey reported that two Common Buzzards flew NW over the church during the afternoon.

It was cold at dawn on the 29th and still, with a cloudless sky but it soon warmed up. A Common Whitethroat sang from within a fifth territory but it was disappointing not to add any new species for the year, as there are quite a number of regular ones still missing, like Sand Martin, Garden Warbler, Turtle Dove, Hobby and Swift, while a good few scarcer migrants have not yet appeared this spring, like Tree Pipit, Nightingale, Wheatear, Ring Ouzel, Sedge and Reed Warblers. Maybe they will all appear during the Patch Watch on May 1st!