It’s that time of year again, birds are returning to breeding areas – both to, from and through the UK and coupled with rising temperatures, insects emerging and plants growing, it is my favourite time of year (apart from autumn migration of course!).
In the last week we have had some good movement of birds on site including an influx of chiffchaffs – there are now 5-6 birds singing on site, with no sign of the wintering bird from the silt lagoons, that has hopefully moved onto it’s own breeding grounds elsewhere. A blackcap was present last Friday, heard singing briefly by volunteer Julie Straw.
Sand martins are now well in, with the first 3 recorded last Wednesday, there was a large flock of 60+ birds feeding over Phase 2 this afternoon. With the bank ready and waiting for them, it shouldn’t be long before the first birds are starting nest excavations.
I was delighted to see the first 2 little ringed plovers back this afternoon over Phase 2 – one we have been expecting, with a bird seen at nearby Collingham Pits last week.
Birds on the move out of the UK at this time of year include whooper swan and there were 2 birds on silt lagoon 5 last Wednesday, 2 with a flock of mute swans on Phase 1 on Thursday and Yesterday (Monday 24th) and 1 on Phase 1 this afternoon (Tuesday). These birds are en route to breeding grounds in Iceland.
Other birds moving include a group of 3 curlew on site last week and 5 dunlin on Phase 3 last Wednesday. A ringed plover on Phase 3 last week too was the first spring bird of 2014.
In the next few weeks do look out for further migrants. We will soon be expecting the first willow warbler, yellow wagtail, swallow and wheatear, followed by the other warbler species, cuckoo and hopefully turtle dove. Look out too for scarcer migrants that pass through the site such as osprey and spotted flycatcher and do let us know of any sightings.