Weekend 5/6 April

Two more different days you couldn't experience. Bright and sunny on Saturday, Grey and snowy on Sunday. I'm going to cheat and supplement my comments with DK's post to Beds Birds.

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!

This week

Into April - the feeders were empty on Wednesday after last weekend but filled them up, even though it was warm. The Canadas were nearly all on K/M (32 of them) with a couple of pairs each on 'Lilypads' and the main island. Did get a snatch of Willow W, however.
Thursday came (nearly missed it - got a cold) and the nets went up a bit late. However, did manage 40 birds, not all tits. 3 Chiffs, 3 Blackcaps of which 2 were heavy as if they were just in, 1 m Robin, several new Wrens, 2 new male 2CY Song Thrushes (did loads last year - where are they?) but no Blackbirds. A Blue Tit from '03 and 2 from '05, 3 Great Tits from '05 and a Dunnock and Wren also from '05. This is good and the result of a run of mild winters, no doubt. A m Reed Bunting was singing and rooting about in the 'long hedge' by the car. Spooked a Water Rail near the 'steps'.
Friday had a poke about but nothing really special; a Swallow and a Willow.
Saturday went to check on the Kingfishers. Caught a retrap male but no female; probably nesting. Watched a pair of (unringed) Blackcaps for some time and, later, a pair of Great Tits; the male GT was ringed (must net this area soon). Then a build up of 150-200 Sand Martins over the lakes about 10:30 am, also 7 Swallows & 1 House Martin. No Reed or Sedge yet! Jon B rang just after I'd left with a sighting of an Osprey being harassed by the crows and then plunging into the main lake opposite the hide c.11 am; possibly the same as at Broom @ 10:20. My cold's no better, thanks.

Sunday 30th March

Spring has sprung! A cracking morning, excepting a rather stiff breeze. Spotted 10+ Sand Martins over the Rough as I crossed the meadow towards Fingers. Entering the conservation area around Fingers a Chiffchaff was singing in the coppiced section next to the Sheep Pen. A Blackcap was singing much further along the path towards the Sedgewick seat but I turned right towards the Steps and another Blackcap started singing in the scrub opposite the Rough gate. At the Dead Seat spotted a Coot and a male Shoveler on west Fingers. The Chiff followed me along the path staying high in the trees and singing strongly before veering off into the Rough. A second Chiff was spotted in the willows along the second finger from the Steps, the first was still singing in the Rough. The ringed Robin was in the Rough at the usual corner but a second unringed bird was closer to the path singing.


At the Spit a pair of Long Tailed Tits were carrying nesting material, heading down to the fenced off section. On west Fingers the pair of Great Crested Grebes and at least three pairs of Canada Geese. On east Fingers just a pair of Canada Geese.

At Kramer hide a Reed Bunting was singing from the small reed bed at the north end of east Fingers. A young Heron was in the usual roost tree. Four Moorhen got into a fight, plenty of noise and feet flying. Two Jays flew in over the hide, one stopping briefly in the tree in front before both continued across and followed the tree line at the back of Fingers, stopping in the taller trees along the path next to the coppiced plantation. A Chiffchaff sang briefly in the trees behind the hide, another/same was seen in the tree out front of the hide.

In the Willows, near the Sedgewick seat, a Chiffchaff singing, a Treecreeper "creeping" and a Great Spotted Woodpecker. A Blackcap was singing in the fenced off section behind the same Willows.

Back at the Rough a Blackcap was singing before being chased off by a second. A Green Woodpecker called from somewhere near the Dead Seat. As I passed west Fingers again both Mute Swans were there.

At the beach my attention was drawn to the small group of trees opposite by a
rapid drumming. A second burst confirmed my first thought, Lesser Spotted
Woodpecker. I scanned the trees for sign but could not locate the bird. A third
burst of drumming was heard and then a glimpse of a bird in flight disappearing
through the trees and across the flood channel to the woods behind. I walked
around and scanned the area for a while but there was no more drumming and I
could not locate the individual. The drumming was very rapid with no drop in
cadence at the end.

Sadly the above turned out not to be a LSW but instead was a Green Woodpecker drumming on the nest box in that stand of trees. Completely different to the other GW we had drumming on the nest box near Kramer hide. As I said very fast but probably too short a burst for it to be LSW. DK is very interested in this "drumming" behaviour which is not common in Green Woodpeckers, although not unknown. Seems we have at least 2 at it in the park this year. (DB 06/04/2008).

A chiffchaff was singing in the woods opposite the canoe slalom.

Another Chiff was singing in the trees behind the main lake hide and a second flew across the walkway to the hide as I approached. On the main lake c.6 Great Crested Grebe, a pair of Mute Swans (third seen later). Only two Cormorants (increased to four later). A kingfisher flew to the trees to the left of the hide but departed when it saw me and flew back around to the Leat.

As I walked along the south side of the lake there were a further 4 singing Chiffchaffs and Blackcap. A Kestrel was hunting on the main lake island. There were at least two Bullfinch near the Leat Pool and a Green Woodpecker called from the trees on the south side of the lake.

A great morning.