The 2010 summer bird monitoring began on Hope Farm on 31st March, over the next three months I'll monitor all fields and field boundaries once a week to determine the number of bird territories that we have on the farm.
With squally showers and a keen breeze it certainly didn't feel like summer for this weeks surveys. However, despite the cold conditions there is now quite a dawn chorus around the farmhouse dominated by Blackbird, Song Thrush, Wren, Dunnock and Robin which will hopefully to be soon joined by summer migrants. Whilst out in the field boundaries Yellowhammers, Chaffinches and Linnets are just starting to hold territory. Several species have been seen nest building including several pairs of Starlings in the nest boxes we provide around the farm and the office wall open-fronted nestbox is now host to a Robin with a clutch of five eggs.
Other notable sightings included a very close Little Owl (much to the derision of one of our chaffinches) and small groups of Fieldfare. Summer migrants seen on the farm this week include single swallows on both 30th March and 1st April, 2 Chiffchaffs on 31st March and a Wheatear on 1st April. Who knows what next weeks surveys may bring?