So it’s been a lovely week here at Fairburn with plenty of exciting sightings to report once again! With wildflowers now emerging even more rapidly and counts of orange-tip butterflies reaching over 63 in one day the reserve really is becoming more and more like a spring wonderland. Cuckoo flowers, garlic mustard and bluebells are still becoming more and more frequent, and an arrival of another understated wildflower, herb Robert. This beautiful little pink flower with its tainted dark purpley stem and twisted leaves is definitely one to brighten up the hedgerows!
Herb Robert – Andy Hay (RSPB-images)
Avocets have been making now regular appearances; I know I’ve seen a regular pair at Charlie’s hide nearly every time I go (although I could just be lucky!), with other sightings over Main bay and by Hickson’s flash. Other popular waders which have been regularly spotted this week include redshank, godwits and common sandpipers also found in the likely spots such as Charlie’s hide and new flash. Little ringed plovers can nearly always been seen scurrying around, casually ignored by the other birds! Telling the difference between little ringed plovers and a ringed plover can be quite tricky... the main thing to look out for is the completely black beak and pale legs of little ringed plovers compared to the ringed plovers orange legs and orange beak with a black tip. Not that these are easy things to look for as they dash wildly back and forward!
Little ringed plover – Ben Hall (RSPB-images)
There was an impressive count of 20 swifts swooping over Main Bay this week. They are pretty similar to swallows with their classic V shape whilst on the wing but with shorter forked tails and black dustier feathers. They are extremely fast flyers, rarely stopping to perch and more impressively they can even sleep on the wing! I was lucky enough to hear my first lapwing call this week, and can now completely understand why they are also referred to as peewits! They have also been spotted over at New Flash performing their impressive courtship displays. Apparently the male will rise steeply, sweep in a circle overhead then plunge down almost looking to crash land before landing delicately and running towards the female. I mean this coupled with the call? Surely any female lapwing would be impressed!
Lapwing – Andy Hay (RSPB-images)
For you fungi lovers out there there is little on the ground here during the warmer months, however I couldn’t help but be drawn off the track earlier in the week by a large bracket fungi called birch polypore. This fungus is quite common here at Fairburn what with our ample dead birch trees which the fungus (as the name suggests!) tends to grow on. Keep your eyes open for these large light brown and white brackets hanging from birch, especially just before village bay hide.
Birch polypore bracket fungi
We are still having our fair share of birds of prey here at Fairburn. With red kites being seen over big hole only this Sunday morning along with others such as buzzards, kestrels and even marsh harriers all jotted down in the sightings book this week. A hobby was also seen over at Pick Up hide this week. These are similar in size to a kestrel but with a speckled belly and with pointed wings to allow them to travel at high speeds in order to zoom onto their prey!
Hobby in flight – Mike Lagman (RSPB-images)