A very pleasant, if somewhat chilly, walk around the park with Dave Kramer this morning. Unfortunately it now looks like both pairs of nesting Mute Swans have abandoned their nests. Following the main lake pairs lead last weekend the Finger Lake pair have also abandoned their nest.
Highlight of the morning was the 3 Common Sandpipers seen around the main lake. The first was spotted flying across the lake toward the beach corner before it turned and headed back towards the side of the lake near the visitor where we lost it behind the trees. When we reached the beach a second bird flew in and headed up the sailing club end of the lake. When we got back round to the corner nearest the pub we flushed a single bird from under the trees and then a further 2 birds a little further along. The single bird was lost behind the trees but the other two ended up on the right hand end of the grass area in front of the sailing club, giving quite good views.
Dave also had the pleasure of seeing a Hobby chasing a Sparrowhawk across the main lake but I missed them, maybe next time.
A small party of Swifts were feeding over the south side of the main lake the first multiple sighting of Swifts I have had this year. Once again the Grasshopper Warbler was absent from Fenlake but at least the boat, that was moored in the area where it was heard, has moved on so maybe it will return.
Despite the cold easterly wind only Common Terns were seen, no Black or Arctic Terns as yet.
Friday, May 04, 2007
Monday, April 30, 2007
This weekend at Priory (28/29th April)
Fairly quiet this weekend all the regular birds about. A Garden Warbler has been showing well around the gate to the rough. Also saw a fox in the Rough on Saturday morning while standing chatting to Errol. Errol then spotted a group of waders flying North East below the tree line. These turned out to be Bar Tailed Godwits, a number of which were moving through the county over the weekend.
The Mute Swans on the main lake seem to have abandoned their nest over the weekend as I didn't see either bird on the nest Saturday or Sunday. The Great Crested Grebes on Fingers seem to have settled on a new nest although that too was abandoned early Sunday morning but it was occupied again just before I left.
Both Sparrowhawk and Kestrel were seen during the weekend.
On Sunday morning I watched, from the dead seat, as a Muntjac walked out along one of the fingers to take a drink.
Still only a small number of Common Terns about and Sand Martin numbers vary wildly depending on the weather. There were hardly any on Saturday but numbers were growing steadily during Sunday morning and there around 45 mostly Sand Martins but with a few House Martins and Swallows mixed in by the time I left the park around mid morning.
The Mute Swans on the main lake seem to have abandoned their nest over the weekend as I didn't see either bird on the nest Saturday or Sunday. The Great Crested Grebes on Fingers seem to have settled on a new nest although that too was abandoned early Sunday morning but it was occupied again just before I left.
Both Sparrowhawk and Kestrel were seen during the weekend.
On Sunday morning I watched, from the dead seat, as a Muntjac walked out along one of the fingers to take a drink.
Still only a small number of Common Terns about and Sand Martin numbers vary wildly depending on the weather. There were hardly any on Saturday but numbers were growing steadily during Sunday morning and there around 45 mostly Sand Martins but with a few House Martins and Swallows mixed in by the time I left the park around mid morning.
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