With winter back in full swing (we are experiencing a heavy hail shower as I type….), the start of my Breeding Bird Survey season has been somewhat thwarted! However, despite the cold temperatures, this morning the sun was shining and we ventured out into the woodland for an hour to see what was around.
Unsurprisingly there wasn’t as much singing activity as last Wednesday, but I did manage to pick up 5 robins, 6 blue tits, 1 great tit, 1 wren, 1 dunnock, and 1 song thrush. I also picked up nest prospecting activity by a great tit, 2 long-tailed tits and a pair of great spotted woodpeckers. I’m not too disappointed with that lot on a very cold mid-March morning.
Other birds present this morning include 3 lovely lesser redpolls that landed briefly in the canopy before flying off towards the silt lagoons – the first I’ve seen on site for some weeks and a 50-60 strong flock of redwing. The redwing are particularly noteworthy as it is the largest number I’ve seen at Langford together in one flock this winter. The birds were obviously finding something good to eat too, as they hung around in the canopy watching us as we completed the survey, returning to the woodland floor as we left.
Many thanks to volunteer Will Booth for help this morning.
And one final thought – when is the weather going to improve? I’m more than ready for the first insects to make a proper appearance! Maybe next week….