Our first visit since last Friday. We keep a watch on the forecast looking for the days when there is less breeze. Bright blue skies all morning and a joy to be out. Chiffchaffs singing from many treetops.
Cettis Warblers are very vocal at the moment and one in particular at the end of Perry Lane didn't seem to mind the crowds, sitting preening in a willow. We were lucky to hear Bearded Tits in R4 and patient enough to see two pairs in the reeds. The views were decent but not for long enough to take photographs. Walking along the coast by R7 we saw a pair of Wheatears on the rocks. They are easier to photograph.
From the hide the Bittern is still booming and a pair of Teal were mating. Lots of song in the wood. Another enjoyable visit.
Thanks, Colin, wish we were there!
Kind regards, Ann
Great pics Colin, hoping to take some friends down early Sat for a walk fingers crossed may get some spots too
Thanks for the comments. Had another nice walk at the Wetlands today. Swallows, only one or two, a pair of Bullfinch, a Buzzard gathering twigs from a Birch and a Marsh Harrier quartering near the hide. A good time of the year.
Another great post Colin, I've got to agree with you Spring is amazing, particularly these few days when the migrants arrive and before the leaves cloak the trees. Love Wheatears, such beautiful plumage but yours are the first I've seen this year. Great spot! Also good to hear you saw Beardies as I've not seen any for almost two months. Heard one ping on Wednesday from the coastal path half way between the lighthouse and the hide.
Thanks John. Tomorrow looks like another chance for reasonable weather. On the GOS sightings it sounds like Willow and Sedge Warblers maybe arriving. We always look forward to the first Reed and Sedge Warbler songs.
Colin - I'm still struggling to get my head around ID'ing some of the little guys but even more so ID'ing birdsong too - would love to know what some of them are, apart from prob Robin and Songthrush I'm lost ! I noticed while at a hide at Forest Farm the other day there was an extremely loud throathy call almost a "CAAAAAAW" would love to know what was making the noise
A caw sound makes me immediately think of a crow. Loud and throaty would probably be a raven. The RSPB has sound files for most birds. Here's a link to the Raven page. Scroll down and you'll find the audio. Try the other crows if this is not it.
https://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdguide/name/r/raven/
If the sound was coming from the reeds, then Coots make lots of noises and Water Rails squeal like pigs. Compare the sounds. If it's none of them at least we'll have something to compare it to.
Nicky I've been working through the birds found in the Wetlands trying to do a video of each one with the bird's call. I've still got a few in the pipeline including fairly common ones like the Blue Tit and the Greenfinch but I have done quite a few. Here is a link to my YouTube page which I hope you will find useful. www.youtube.com/.../UCYrSkVNhAv0fthBtsoo0qIw
The B.T.O. also do ones for ID with narration which you may prefer!