We had loads of great sightings last week over half term, along with some much-needed sunshine! The feeders around the visitor centre are seeing plenty of action as ever, with relatively rarely-seen birds such as lesser redpolls, willow tits and siskins dropping by for a spot of lunch, along with our ever-present tits, finches and tree sparrows.
Lesser redpolls are easiest to see in winter after the trees have lost their leaves. These are tiny little finches which tend to stick together in small flocks over winter, and they can often be seen in gardens on feeders. You'd be forgiven for thinking they were a bit boring-looking if you saw one at a distance, as they appear rather dull and brown. See them a little closer however, and you can't fail to be charmed; their soft, streaky plumage is a subtle blend of browns from dark chocolate through to rich russet, and a surprising splash of colour from their crimson red crowns make the lesser redpoll a very attractive little bird.
One bird which I managed to get a proper look at for the first time at the weekend is the siskin - and it was well worth the wait! The handsome male I saw on the feeders was eye catching to say the least, his plumage a stunning sunshine-yellow streaked with bold black and greenish-yellow patches, topped off with an inky black cap. These are agile little finches, slightly smaller than green finches, and are known for their acrobatic habit of dangling upside-down from tree branches to get at the seeds.
Siskin artwork by Mike Langman (rspb-images.com)
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A bird which seems to be thriving on the reserve at the moment is the skylark, with several seen over on the grassland near big hole this week. Like the lesser redpoll, these birds can appear to be a little dull and boring at first sight, but nothing could be further from the truth! These streaky brown birds, which are slightly smaller than starlings, are renowned for their dramatic vertical display flights, as well as having one of the most distinctive and charming songs of any songbird.
Skylark image by Andy Hay (rspb-images.com)
Their lively and bubbling trill of a song is recognised by many as a true sign of spring, as skylarks are one of the earliest songbirds to breed in the year. Sadly, these beautiful harbingers of spring have suffered dramatic declines in recent years, thought to be due to changes in farming practice throughout the open countryside habitat where they breed. The RSPB are working to understand the causes of these declines through projects including our nature-friendly Hope Farm, so that we can work to reverse them.
Let us know what you've seen whilst you're out and about on the reserve by recording your sightings in the visitor centre sightings book!