The light breeze started SE shifting to west by lunchtime. Plenty of sunshine again.
Visible migration report from Jean:
Heysham Head 0740-1100 All north unless stated.
Pink-footed Goose 1345 in 9 flocks
Whooper Swan 14 floating in.
Meadow Pipit 86 in mostly ones and twos.
Skylark 2
Lesser Redpoll 3
Siskin heard but not seen
Linnet 3 plus 5 in the gorse areas.
Chaffinch 1
alba Wagtail 10
Carrion Crow 4
Goldfinch 2
Sparrowhawk 1 - May have been a local bird spiralling upwards till lost from view.
Grey Heron 3 together high going south
Chiffchaff 3 singing in the wood.
South shore
Wheatear at least 3
Rock Pipits 4
Middleton Nature Reserve - mid afternoon
Mute swan 9 on the main pond plus one pair nesting, the second pair that had been nesting not seen today.
Mallard 3
Coot 2
Moorhen 4
Jackdaw 27 (22, hopefully, moving through - they devastate the emerging dragonflies)
This clip of a male Bullfinch calling, also includes two other bird songs.
Bullfinch, Great Tit and Chiffchaff
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| The remaining buds on the tree that the Bullfinch was eating have emerged (see post 18/03/21) Showing them to be Blackthorn. You can understand how there would have been plenty of sustenance in the buds - lots of pollen on the flowers. |
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| Chiffchaff were everywhere, this is the easiest time of year to see them. Plenty about and still very little plumage on the trees. |
Insects:
Between, Kevin, Alison, Janet and myself we managed:
South shore:
7 spot Ladybird 1
Comma 1
Brimstone 2 (male and female)
Peacock 3
Small Tortoiseshell 5
Middleton Nature Reserve:
Peacock 2
Small Tortoiseshell 4
Brimstone 1 female
Red Admiral 1 - this species is not supposed to over winter in the UK. Spring arrivals from the continent do not usually arrive till May. Janet managed a couple of record shots:
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| Although in good condition it doesn't look fresh. So it's either over wintered or arrived very early from the continent (MD) |
Finally, the Palmate newts in the pond behind Red Nab are "active". This is a male
