Week 3: Here Comes Summer?

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On Tuesday we paid our first visit of the year to the "Jewel in the Crown" of Lincolnshire reserves. The weather was good, but it was plain to see that the recent cool weather was only slowly releasing its grip. Some wild flowers hadn't yet appeared, and some summer visitors were only present in small numbers, and a few hadn't even arrived at all.

Egyptian Goose

Reed Warbler - not taken by Maggie!

Brimstone

Mistletoe

Spring Beauty (Claytonia perfoliata)

On Wednesday we were scheduled to be at Skerne Wetlands, but unfortunately, for Health & Safety reasons it isn't quite ready yet, so we relocated to Kiplingcotes Station.

Willow Warbler

There were Willow Warblers singing as soon as the car doors opened, but not as much as usual for this time of year. We headed along the Hudson Way towards Market Weighton.

Blackcap

Ditto

The bird of the morning was a showy male Blackcap, which we were able to watch below us from the old railway bridge.

However, the rest of the walk was quieter than we'd expect at this time of year. There were some distant Yellowhammers, but much fewer than expected. A Marsh Tit was heard singing, but was too far away to be seen.

Other birds included: Great Spotted Woodpecker, Lesser Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, several Buzzards and a Red Kite.

Yellowhammer - near the car park - afternoon only
Peacock
Speckled Wood - our first of the year
On Thursday we went to our local folly of a canal. The usual suspects were in evidence including good views of Reed and Sedge Warblers, plus Willow Warblers, and after lunch Whitethroats and Lesser Whitethroats. Also, in the afternoon, there must have been an influx of Common Whitethroats, as we saw 2 singing males close together, and a Lesser Whitethroat gave really good views. This was Gordon's "bird of the day" until a distant Cuckoo got closer and eventually flew very close to us. On the second occasion it was being chased by a small Warbler-type species.
Reed Bunting
Ditto
Sedge Warbler
Willow Warbler
Yellowhammer
Ditto
In the afternoon the morning group had two good views of a Cuckoo, the second time being chased by a small passerine. The same day Maggie managed to photograph at a venue we aren't visiting this year - perhaps that's a mistake?
Cuckoo
Ditto
In the morning a Buzzard was being mobbed by a Crow, when it rolled on to its back & attempted to surprise the crow with its talons. I overhead one participant telling another that he felt privileged to have witnessed such an action.
Buzzard
Buzzard
On Friday we travelled to a northern chalky woodland. Before we started there was a Goldcrest and a male Blackcap in the car park. We hadn't left the woodland long when I noticed a wing flapping as a bird landed on the edge of a chalky path. On investigation this turned out to be a male Kestrel, which had plunged down for a meal. It seemed to have missed its original target, but walked around a grassy area, as if looking for more of its elusive prey.
Kestrel
Ditto
Ditto
Ditto
There were plenty of Butterbur by the side of the road, and looking back, Mike spotted a Red Kite sailing overhead. It eventually passed directly over our position.
Butterbur
We reached the pond and heard and saw plenty of singing Willow Warblers. Dave spotted a male Reed Bunting, and there were also Chiffchaff and distant Whitethroat and Linnets in the area. The ever-present Yellowhammers seemed to be completely absent for once, a new species for this area was a pair of Gadwall. A pair of Swallows popped by for a drink, and then a small party of House Martins. Greylag Geese were on the pond, but there was absolutely no sign of last year's Little Grebes. A family of recently-hatched Moorhens swan in the shallow water in front of us, and then someone spotted a nest in the open with 2 eggs still remaining.
Helpless Young Moorhen
On the walk to the old Yorkshire Water compound we could hear the song of a Redstart issuing from a bare mature ash tree. After a little searching we eventually located the bird singing high up at the back of the tree. Unfortunately for most people it remained a silhouette against a very white sky, but I could see the black feathers round the face, and on one occasion the orange underparts. I photographed another at a different location, so I include that bird here.
Saturday Redstart
Ditto
Redstart Skyfall
We then had a walk round the wood, but the wildlife was a bit quiet, although the wonderful Bluebells, and Wood Anenomes put on a fine display. There was also a plentiful supply of Ransoms or Wild Garlic, which seemed to have grabbed a stranglehold on the flora since out last visit. The emerging Beech trees were a beautiful shade of green, but there was no sign of life yet in the many Ash trees and their saplings. We could hear the song of Goldcrests in the Norway Spruces, and one gave good views as it fluttered up the side of a conifer. That was an exception though, as apart from a very loud Song Thrush there were relatively few birds in the wood. Last week's gloriously singing male Siskin was also absent.
Wood Anenomes & Bluebell
Saturday Yellowhammer
Local Bluebell Wood
Ditto
Ditto
Ditto
Ditto

Week 3: Here Comes Summer?

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