Good to see both female and male Great Spotted Woodpeckers about.
5th April.
Early morning mist.
Little Grebe and Canada Geese across the Meadow Pools.
Linnet on arable field near farm . . .
. . . and Meadow Pipit too.
Hawthorn coming into leaf.
Several pairs of frogs seen along the Lonning on this damp morning.
Moorhen on farm pond . . .
. . . and a second one followed it.
Lapwing and Teal on floodwater.
Little Grebe viewed from 2nd Meadow Pool screen - as the day brightened up.
A Mute Swan on the wetlands.
Teal on pool in front of the hide.
Canada Geese in front of the hide.
6th April
Started off very misty but high pressure prevailed. It was late afternoon before the sun started to burn through. A pair of Wheatear were seen on the Lonning track.
7th April.
Hazy sunshine and a light NW wind - with banks of cloud rolling about the estuary until high tide at 1.42pm. As the mist rolled away to lovely sunshine, the place became alive with finches and sparrows.
8th April.
Another still bright sunny day
From the Logbook:
Norman had entered notably seeing 26 Redshank and 2 Little Grebe.
G Pither had seen a female Hen Harrier at Rogersceugh.
Paul Glendenning saw a Bluethroat on the track from the Kirkbride/ Bowness road to Rogersceugh.
9th April.
Another sunny day with no wind (although a little hazy) brought out a multitude of bumble bees.
Neil & Marjorie carried out a most successful Bumblebee survey, recording 7 different species (all queens) - mostly on Willow catkins: Buff-tailed, White-tailed, Tree, Early Garden, Common Carder, Forest Cuckoo. They pointed out a Tree Bumblebee on the flowering currant on the track near the Wetlands Centre, as they arrived. They also recorded 2 Redshank with Lapwing, on the 2nd Meadow Pool; a Willow Warbler on the Lily Pond; a Swallow at Rogersceugh and a Wheatear just below, before reaching the boardwalk there.
We had seen a Swallow on the telephone wires near the Glasson turn-off at 3.40pm and on returning home at 4.50pm, there had been a Nuthatch feeding alongside other birds under the garden feeders by the field gate.
Mike Porter recorded a Reed Bunting in good condition on the track to Rogersceugh - from the Bowness to Whitrigg road.
Derrick West saw 2 Little Egret at Campfield/ North Plain.
So a good day was had by all!
Bumblebee - ID welcome.
Wren singing merrily along the Lonning.
Nuthatch feeding with Chaffinches on the ground under feeders in Hamlet.
10th April.
Today was the hottest day of the year so far. However, it misted in about 3.30pm on a southerly wind - Saharian dust had been forecast!
As we walked along the marsh front to the Lonning, could see Stephen way out on the Reserve boundary with his tractor - repairing the fence.
We saw our first Willow Warbler on the Lonning - a Little Grebe and two Canada Geese were on the Meadow Pools. Still some Wigeon on the wetlands alongside Teal and Mallard - a group of Black-headed Gulls were 'anting' over the water there too.
Dave Ruffle recorded 2 Wheatear in front of the hide and another two east of the Viaduct.
Further record - Norman's Seat : Whinchat, Chiffchaff.
Stephen way out on the mudflats repairing the boundary fence.
Wren declaring its territory on marshside gorse.
Planters in front of the Wetlands Centre in full bloom . . .
. . . much loved by bumblebees.
Tree Sparrows and Goldfinch on Centre bird feeders.
Teal on wet meadow in front of the first Screen overlooking the Meadow Pools.
Two Canada Geese - 2nd Meadow Pool.
.
Little Grebe on 2nd Meadow Pool.
Black-headed Gulls 'anting' over the wetlands.
11th April.
Rained overnight. Strong SW winds this morning cleared yesterday's smog and made it much cooler.
A Willow Tit with a BTO silver right leg ring was frequenting the nut hanger outside our garden gate. It later flew up into the hawthorn hedge fronting the marsh.
Logbook Records:
PE - White Wagtail on saltmarsh.
Norman Holton - 4 Black-tailed Godwit and 2 Little Egret.
Willow Tit with BTO leg ring.
12th April.
Rain all morning which turned to wet snow showers about midday with strong NW winds.
A Song Thrush brightened the day by singing from one of the marsh-side hawthorns.
Snow on the Scottish hills across the estuary - seen when the showers abated.
Cheering Song Thrush.
13th April.
The inclement weather of yesterday had subsided. Although there was still a thin layer of cloud left in the morning, there was virtually no wind.
A male Bullfinch was seen about the hamlet early morning. As the skies brightened up after lunch, the Reserve became alive with birds. A female Bullfinch put in an appearance and down the Lonning the arable field was busy with Linnets picking up the fallen seed after it had been cut in preparation for a new season. The floodwater on the left of the Lonning was busy with Teal, Wigeon and a pair of Redshank. The pair of Canada Geese, which had been inhabiting the reserve for a while now, seemed to be prospecting the island of the 2nd Meadow Pool. Curlew were putting in a good show on the wetlands on the right-hand side of the hide.
Linnets in arable field near the Wetlands Centre.
Wigeon,Teal and a Redshank - flooded meadow on LHS of Lonning
Wigeon and Teal.
Teal on meadow - 1st screen to Meadow Pools.
Canada Geese prospecting the Island on 2nd Meadow Pool.
Curlew flying over wetlands . . .
. . . and landing on the wet margins.
Grey Heron flying over wetlands.
Buzzard and Lapwing in combat over the wood.
14th April
An overcast day with a cold westerly wind blowing. Did not however deter the birds - according to reports:
A male and two female Bullfinches were seen together. Numerous Tree Sparrows, Chaffinches and Goldfinches were frequenting all the feeders at the Centre and in the Hamlet - a pair of Greenfinches (an infrequent visitor) and six Stock Doves, too. John spotted two Swallows flying along the Saltmarsh at 2pm - the first we'd seen here this year.
Logbook reports came from:
Norman Holton - 8 Pintail, 6 Shoveler, 2 Little Grebe and a Jack Snipe (on the peat Bog).
J. Ireland - 55 Linnets, Little Egret, 6 Black-tailed Godwit.
Peter Birkett - At 4pm, Chiffchaff singing well in the bushes near Campfield.
DBT - Merlin chased by Crows and a Willow Tit (Low Abbey feeders)
PRW - 11.00 hrs from Biglands layby, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler and Blackcap - all singing.
Skua Watchers: PRW - High Tide aprrox. 8.30 hrs from Bowness Shelter, 5 Great Skuas, 1 Artic Skua, 4 Red-throated Divers, Kittiwakes.
One of two female Bullfinch seen together today.
Male Bullfinch.