The balcony feeding station came down on Monday as we bid goodbye to Big Garden Birdwatch for the year. Some of the regular birds returned for a few days and looked a little bereft that their dinner had gone missing, but they’ve grown used to the feeders being down in the Wildlife Garden again. There also appears to have been an explosion of finches, with at least seven bullfinches out there the other day.
Don’t worry though, the wildlife spectacle continues as the nest box cameras were switched on this week. Tree sparrows have already begun nest building and blue tits are popping in and out while they make up their minds about this year’s real estate. You’re very welcome to settle down with a coffee, it’s better than anything else on telly!
The smew excitement continues. The female smew which caused a stir down on Village Bay last week was spotted down on Spoonbill Flash on Wednesday and Thursday, and flew past Lin Dike hide this morning. Please let us know about any new sightings.
Cetti's warbler, Mike Lane (rspb-images.com)
Sunday was a busy day with 300 golden plover over the Newfield area, two whooper swans down at Charlie’s hide and a 12 snipe at big hole. There were also eight dunlin at Big Hole on Monday and a curlew was seen in along the Lin Dike Link path.
Grey wagtail, Andrew Parkinson (rspb-images.com)
The long-eared owls returned to the pool beyond the iron bridge at the weekend. There were two roosting on Sunday and they were being serenaded by a nearby Cetti’s warbler. The warbler was heard there again on Monday along with a guest appearance from a green woodpecker and a grey wagtail.
If you've been recently you will have probably heard the woodpecker drumming in the Discovery Trail, well one has been heard on the Riverbank Trail now as well! Signs of spring indeed.