Snow? At the end of April! There has been every imaginable type of weather at Fairburn this week; rain, hail, sleet, snow, high winds, and a few rays of sunshine. There have also been some pretty nifty sightings, which is why we’re all here!
Swift, Mike Langman (rspb-images.com)
First off, because it’s the thing I am absolutely the most excited about, is the return of the swifts. I am yet to see one, but there have been plenty of reports in the book. The first one appeared on Saturday morning and by the end of the day the final count clocked in at eight. They have been seen on the Flashes, on Cut Lane, on the Riverbank Trail and up near Big Hole, so more or less everywhere.
Swifts return to the UK on migration from Africa each year and only stay for a few short months. They scythe through the air on sharp, crescent wings, screaming as they go and catching insects up high. There aren’t many things better than lying back in the sunshine and watching swifts wheel in the air above.
Cuckoo, John Bridges (rspb-images.com)
The other big sighting over the past week has been the arrival of the cuckoos. There have been lots of sightings, both seen and heard, up on the Coal Tips trail, at least four birds on Friday. These gorgeous birds have suffered massive declines in recent years and they will be busy hunting for nests to lay their eggs in; they favour the nests of dunnocks, reed warblers and meadow pipits.
Whitethroat, John Bridges (rspb-images.com)
Otherwise, the warblers are here in full force! Sedge warblers are singing, Cetti’s warbler numbers have increased, we have had reports of whitethroats and lesser whitethroats. You can’t walk 10 paces through the reserve without being accosted by the sound of a singing chiffchaff or willow warbler! And up on the Coal Tips on Thursday our site manager, Darren, heard the first grasshopper warbler of the year.
Keep letting us know your sightings!