04.04.15. Birdlog
A lot of foot work this morning for little reward but we have to take the good times as and when they come. A walk along the track above No.6 tank and out to the mitigation at No.3 tank was more for its health properties than the birds. After that, a tramp over to Lordship Marsh to see if the exotic waterfowl were still about after yesterdays visit draw a blank. The whole marsh had an air of the Mary Celeste about it.
A further extended hike along Brook Furlong Lane via Redwall reedbed and the Weaver Bend fared much better with 200 Tufted Duck, 9 Pochard, 10 Goldeneye, 2 drake Wigeon, 14 Gadwall, 12 Mallard and an assortment of Oystercatcher, Redshank and Lapwing plus 4 displaying Common Buzzard and a over flying Peregrine adding life back to the marsh.
Spurred on and encouraged by this, I continued my walk along Brook Furlong Lane back to No.6 tank where Frank was stationed. Two Little Stint, 6 Dunlin and 5 Ringed Plover were with the 4 Ruff from earlier and presumably the stints, dunlin and plovers had come in with the tide.
Ducks on the tank included 167 Common Teal, 8 Tufted Duck, 12 Common Shelduck, 23 Mallard and 4 Gadwall. No.3 tank had nesting Lapwing and 2 Ringed Plover as yet unpaired.
A Peacock Butterfly and Lesser celandine in flower were both in the ditch bordering Moorditch Lane where earlier a flash of azure indicated the presence of a Kingfisher and the first singing Blackcap was heard warbling in the hawthorns close by with an influx of Chiffchaffs.
A Cetti’s Warbler shot off a blast of song at an undisclosed site which rounded off a mixed fortunes kind of day.
Observers: Arthur Harrison, Frank Duff, Idris and Jacqui Roberts, Sean O’Hara, WSM (and images).
