I thought that spring had arrived yesterday when I had 18 Chiffchaffs,
15Blackcaps, c140 Sand Martins and a Swallow at Priory. Willow Warblers however have been around the same for the last week with no increase in arrivals. John Bishop's sighting of the Osprey yesterday was an excellent addition (39th record for Priory), however as it was at around 11am most of the regular birders had already gone home! This morning was a bit different as it was snowing quite hard early on. Nevertheless it didn't deter the c160 Sand Martins and a Swallow over the lake, a couple of singing Willow Warblers and a few (far fewer than yesterday) Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps. DaveK.
Can't believe I missed the Osprey. I think I was behind the sailing club when it put in it's appearance! In the words of the great Homer Simpson "DOH!".
On Saturday I met John (BTCV) at the hide, he mentioned a possible Otter on Thursday but he had only seen the bubble trail not the Otter itself as it disappeared down the channel to east Fingers. He did try to see it on east Fingers but ,as is the way, it didn't show up the other side of the gap. John also mentioned he had seen 25 frogs in the flooded section of the dipping platform, opposite the Rough gate. We wondered how safe they would be there as it would be difficult for them to get out of there in a hurry. We wandered round there and were greeted by carnage. Our fears had obvioulsy been realised as bits of Frog and patches of blood were all over the platform! Good news is that I came across a large number of frogs and toads at the Leat Pool. There was a fair bit of frog and toad spawn. For those of you who don't know the frog spawn is in big balls and the Toads is in long strings. Please do not remove/deposit spawn from/in the park lakes, there is a disease in frogs which can be transferred to new areas by doing this and it could destroy local populations. The Lesser Spotted Woodpecker I called last week turned out to be a Green Woodpecker doing a damned fine impression, Grrrrrr! Put that one down to experience. We also had a female Mallard with seven ducklings on west Fingers, over by the Dead Seat as seen from the Spit.
On Sunday the Little Grebes in the main lake (north side reeds near the steps) and west fingers were still about as yesterday, but also a pair in the flooded crescent reed bed. A Grey Wagtail, possibly more than one, flew over at the Beach and also later up at the Beefeater. Three Shelduck did a fly past, heading south west and then turning and heading back north east. A pair of Gadwall were on west Fingers. As DK said far fewer warblers this morning, not surprising given the temperature, didn't seem to put off the Sand Martins though, was hoping I might find them all shivering in the reeds, as DK did the other week when it was cold, but they were all out and about feeding on some equally hardy insects!
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