August heralds the time to migrate for many of our summer breeding birds. At a number of sites across Devon a steady flow of passage birds have been ringed and counted, Willow warblers, Chiffchaffs, Reed warblers and Blackcaps among others, all starting their long haul flight back to the wintering grounds in southern Europe and Africa.
Here at Darts The Gull numbers continue to impress, with daily sightings of Mediterranean Gulls. Green Sandpipers are being seen around the wetland area, a small, easy to overlook wading bird. Lots of juvenile Pied Wagtails, Swallow, Goldfinch and Greenfinch dotted around the farm. The Common Buzzard family have fledged, with two young calling non-stop to the adults for food. The other day i caught sight of one of the young practicing it’s hunting skills on a odd looking lump of grass, lot’s of jumping and wings beating.
Still no sign of any Kingfishers on the ponds or ditches, i’ve only seen one all year! Have you noticed a decline on your local patch?
Thanks for reading,
Gareth.