It’s been blowing a gale here today at Langford and combined with some heavy showers this afternoon, it’s been a rather dreary day. However, the miserable weather most definitely doesn’t deter the wildlife!
This morning I was treated to a brilliant view of 3 whooper swans on silt lagoon 4, looking stunning with their bright white plumage and striking yellow and black bills. I had first picked them up yesterday morning after they swam across silt lagoon 6, being hotly pursued by a pair of very aggressive looking mute swans!
Also this morning I managed to pick up not 1, but 2 kingfishers heading towards Phase 2 from the silt lagoons and a green sandpiper calling overhead as it flew towards Phase 3.
2 kestrels battled the howling wind this afternoon hunting on Phase 2, still managing to keep their heads totally still as they hovered over the rough grass and the regular roosting starlings started to gather around 15.30, with swirling flocks dropping into the reeds and willows around silt lagoons 2,3 and 4. The maximum number seen so far this year roosting on site seems to be in the region of 3000-4000, not as many as last winter, but still a magnificent sight!
Also on site this week, volunteers John and Graham recorded jack snipe on Phase 3, 14 house sparrows around the public footpath (a most unusual sight at Langford!) and up to 7 tree sparrows feeding on the bird feeders viewable from the screen on the public footpath looking over Phase 1. A mixed finch/bunting/sparrow flock kept me entertained yesterday afternoon along the public footpath, with around 100 birds of a good selection of species including yellowhammer, reed bunting, tree sparrow, greenfinch, chaffinch, goldfinch and linnet.