I managed to miss this delightful bird today - here depicted in full glory by Marc Heath. Frustratingly, it had been present several days.
FRIDAY 23 APRIL
A beautiful day - light winds, dry, blue sky and warm sunshine.
FISHER'S GREEN 70 ACRES LAKE (HERTS/ESSEX)
COMMON NIGHTINGALES were the target bird and a total of 6 was recorded - the most confiding the singing male in the scrub by the main car park. At least two were singing from what is now considered Hertfordshire.
The reserve was also highly productive for warblers with a cacophony of sound - Western Reed Warblers, Cetti's, Sedge (14+), Common Whitethroat, Blackcap, Common Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler.
Whilst in the car park, I received news of a Red-rumped Swallow in East Kent that had been present for the past three days and suppressed. It was still showing so I set off in pursuit.........
MINSTER SEWAGE TREATMENT WORKS, NEAR RAMSGATE (EAST KENT)
It was an 83 mile drive to Minster and just as I pulled up at the manual railway crossing with Bo Beolens, we discovered that the barriers were not working. We eventually raised them physically and drove the last mile to the treatment works.
A local guy was on site and informed us that the swallow had last been seen at 1216 hours. It was now 1315 and for the next three hours, there was no sign of it. Every now and again, a small wave of European Barn Swallows dropped down sufficiently to be seen but the Red-rumped was no longer with them. Two House Martins were in the area, along with a male Yellow Wagtail, rattling male Lesser Whitethroat, Common Whitethroat, Western Reed Warbler, Willow Warbler, Cetti's Warbler and Common Buzzard, whilst butterflies were represented by Green-veined White, Orange Tip and Peacock.
CROXLEY COMMON MOOR (HERTS)
Later in the evening, I saw my first WHINCHAT of the year - a dapper male in the middle of the moor, as well as 2 Common Whitethroats..
WOODOAKS FARM, MAPLE CROSS (HERTS)
The first-summer male BLACK REDSTART was showing well by the last barn but the real surprise bonus was a EUROPEAN TURTLE DOVE in the orchard - the first I have ever seen at this site and my first of the year.
LODGE LANE, LITTLE CHALFONT (BUCKS)
A Red Fox was sunning itself
CHESHAM FISHING LAKES (BUCKS)
GREAT CRESTED GREBES had successfully bred, with a pair with two small young on the smaller of the two lakes. Another pair were on the larger lake. There were also 11 Tufted Ducks and a few Swallows flying around.
A beautiful day - light winds, dry, blue sky and warm sunshine.
FISHER'S GREEN 70 ACRES LAKE (HERTS/ESSEX)
COMMON NIGHTINGALES were the target bird and a total of 6 was recorded - the most confiding the singing male in the scrub by the main car park. At least two were singing from what is now considered Hertfordshire.
The reserve was also highly productive for warblers with a cacophony of sound - Western Reed Warblers, Cetti's, Sedge (14+), Common Whitethroat, Blackcap, Common Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler.
Whilst in the car park, I received news of a Red-rumped Swallow in East Kent that had been present for the past three days and suppressed. It was still showing so I set off in pursuit.........
MINSTER SEWAGE TREATMENT WORKS, NEAR RAMSGATE (EAST KENT)
It was an 83 mile drive to Minster and just as I pulled up at the manual railway crossing with Bo Beolens, we discovered that the barriers were not working. We eventually raised them physically and drove the last mile to the treatment works.
A local guy was on site and informed us that the swallow had last been seen at 1216 hours. It was now 1315 and for the next three hours, there was no sign of it. Every now and again, a small wave of European Barn Swallows dropped down sufficiently to be seen but the Red-rumped was no longer with them. Two House Martins were in the area, along with a male Yellow Wagtail, rattling male Lesser Whitethroat, Common Whitethroat, Western Reed Warbler, Willow Warbler, Cetti's Warbler and Common Buzzard, whilst butterflies were represented by Green-veined White, Orange Tip and Peacock.
CROXLEY COMMON MOOR (HERTS)
Later in the evening, I saw my first WHINCHAT of the year - a dapper male in the middle of the moor, as well as 2 Common Whitethroats..
WOODOAKS FARM, MAPLE CROSS (HERTS)
The first-summer male BLACK REDSTART was showing well by the last barn but the real surprise bonus was a EUROPEAN TURTLE DOVE in the orchard - the first I have ever seen at this site and my first of the year.
LODGE LANE, LITTLE CHALFONT (BUCKS)
A Red Fox was sunning itself
CHESHAM FISHING LAKES (BUCKS)
GREAT CRESTED GREBES had successfully bred, with a pair with two small young on the smaller of the two lakes. Another pair were on the larger lake. There were also 11 Tufted Ducks and a few Swallows flying around.
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