APRIL
Garden breeding is well under way .. a Robin feeding chicks in a thick dark section of trellis close to the house and Blue and Great Tits also carrying food to their respective nest boxes. All seemingly experienced birds in the context of how they approach the nests ... NEVER directly. They are all aware of lurking Sparrowhawks or Corvids (Crows, Jackdaws and Jays) and cleverly land away from the carefully chosen nest site ... hide, look around, listen and only then fly quickly to the box or bush. The Robin actively works with me when I am gardening .... even sitting on the wheelbarrow handle only inches away and although I know where the nest is roughly, it is so well hidden in the most impenetrable bit of the climber that you cannot see a single strand of the nest. Later, when the chicks become vocal I can monitor the progress of the family broods much more easily.
Similarly the Greenfinches and Goldfinches come down to drink in the small pond and fly back rapidly into a tall dark hedge .. again some feet away from the actual nest which they approach inside the hedge and out of view. Back on the 17th of the month I had a quick look at Micklemere and watched my first Barn Swallow of the year ... together with breeding pairs of Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Egyptian Goose and Redshanks ... this little reserve never disappoints. Later a clay lane walk and recorded two butterfly firsts .. a stunning Holly Blue and very early Speckled Wood .. all in all a great day.
Similarly the Greenfinches and Goldfinches come down to drink in the small pond and fly back rapidly into a tall dark hedge .. again some feet away from the actual nest which they approach inside the hedge and out of view. Back on the 17th of the month I had a quick look at Micklemere and watched my first Barn Swallow of the year ... together with breeding pairs of Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Egyptian Goose and Redshanks ... this little reserve never disappoints. Later a clay lane walk and recorded two butterfly firsts .. a stunning Holly Blue and very early Speckled Wood .. all in all a great day.
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Finally another interesting fly over bird the Raven .. the call is the clincher. A deep gutteral Kronk Kronk ... like a pig .. absolutely unmistakeable. For a positive ID look at the long queen of spades shape tail and powerful but graceful wing flaps ... almost Buzzard size but jet black. My 4th this year and definitely not just in the Tower of London!
All the expected arrivals pitched up during the month .. Cuckoo, Large Red Damselfly and Male Orange Tip butterfly ... but still no Comma .. long overdue and a worry as to the reasons. Keep watching Brian Taylor |