The brooks are really full since yesterday's snow melt and the Dove Stone is visible on the horizon once more ! A quick update of sightings this weekend. Starting with Binn Green, lots of activity on the feeders with Lesser Redpoll, Coal, Blue and Great Tit and Siskin. Also around Binn Green sightings of Wren, Bullfinch and Treecreeper. Seems to be a bit quiet on the Sparrowhawk front, which until recently was being seen regularly.
Elsewhere around Dove Stone, sightings of three Ravens ( two seen looking like they were prospecting for a potential nesting site ), two Peregrines ( male and female displaying ) and a Kestrel. Nuthatch and Greenfinch down at the feeders by the main car park and Pied Wagtail on the reservoir wall. Plenty of Black Headed Gulls on the main Dove Stone reservoir. Lapwing in the fields adjacent to the main car park too. Along with Bullfinch and Pied Wagtail, Lapwing is the latest addition to the 2013 Dove Stone bird list ( arriving in timely fashion for the Big Garden Birdwatch ) which brings our reserve total for this year so far to a mighty35 !
The Kestrel that was seen over the weekend was actually feeding on a Woodcock. We've had Woodcock recorded on the reserve prior to this and obviously a Kestrel feeding on a Woodcock is an unusual situation. We don't know the circumstances behind this. Kestrel's aren't known for feeding on carrion if this bird had been killed by something else so the only conclusion is that it was taken by a Kestrel.
More soon...