There are 4 Willows in the row of trees outside the kitchen, at their catkins must be at the perfect stage of opening as they were full of bees and 2 early Chiffchaff were flitting around, one managed a few bursts of song. The pond in the garden has started to show a little life, two Mallards did a cursory fly past in the fog, the pond itself has plenty of spawn, and a few Toads were visible in the leaf litter that's accumulated at the bottom along with several newts and the long strings of Toad spawn were visible in the weeds, with the clumps of floating spawn, assuming at this stage is from the Newts. The frogs which are in the tiny pond just beyond the chickens, seem to prefer much more weedy environment.
The local birds are in full voice, several territories are held by Blackbirds, Robins, Dunnocks, Song Thrush and 2 Mistle Thrush are in song, one from the large Beech tree and another at the end of the fields. Nuthatch, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Green Woodpecker are all calling / drumming. A Firecrest is building up to full song in the gully, here are still some finches - about a dozen Chaffinch, and half the number of Siskin and Goldfinch. A Bullfinch pair passed through the hedge. The Blue Tits and Great Tits are around, but in low numbers, a Marsh Tit is still a regular visitor and there are two or three pairs of Long-tailed Tits.
Adie had a wildlife camera , which has been used sporadically, but the last week we left it out attached to a post just past the Chicken pen, along with the usual Pheasant and Grey Squirrel, there were several shots of Badger, Red Fox and Muntjac Deer. The 3 Roe Deers have also been seen at the back of the fields.
On to th3 larger species, I would guess 3 pairs of Stock Doves are in the Gully. Then from 12.30 - 2pm the thermals obviously became perfect for Raptors, I saw up to 20 Common Buzzard - It was difficult to count properly by the largest 'tower' had 9 birds. Just one Red Kite, Sparrowhawk and Kestrel, but the best of all were the Goshawks, still distant but ok through the scope. Displaying in pairs then a long drift by one bird saw it join 2 others so there were 3 Goshawks with a Common Buzzard. Hope these local birds have a successful year.
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| Pretty distant and into the haze - but 2 Goshawks |
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| The notched tail on the right-hand bird I've always found distinctive- these birds are big Hawks - same size as a Buzzard |
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| A Sparrowhawk - by comparison, shorter narrow tail , shorter wings - and about half the size. |
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One of the many Common Buzzards - a very light phase bird
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| In a few weeks. I wonder how many people will report this as an Osprey. |
