diary_6_4

The weather held for the weekend again and Saturday was another brilliant day. By 9'o clock the fields were beginning to shimmer in the warm sun. I found the Little Owl out on the eastern fields again near an old Willow. This is the third time in the Spring I have seen the bird here and beginning to think that this may be site for another nesting pair on the farm.

I walked hedge line here and then came out into the Hawthorn paddock. There were lots of small birds, cock Yellowhammer and Chaffinch singing in the tops of trees. I scanned the fields out the other side of this paddock and in the fields behind the farm picked up a number of Fieldfares feeding in the field and with them some smaller birds. One of these birds took off and landed a short distance away obviously chasing a fly. The tell tail white rump gave it away and I walked out into the field for a better look. There three female and one male Wheatear(see photographs).

Returning to the paddock I walked the Strine back here and there large clumps of Lesser Celandine(see photo)cascade from the bank to the waters edge with their rich heart shaped leaves and bright sunshine yellow flowers. I also found a freshwater mussel on the banks here(see photo).

I walked out to the Buttery to see how many Mute Swans were in today. I counted 58 but Martin I think counted 68 in the week which is a new record. In the hedges here you can off pick up Warblers and I was delighted when the all too familiar descending song of the Willow Warbler kicked up. I heard but didn't see a Blackcap here.

Cutting out beyond the buttery to Kinnersley Drive I was delighted at 2'o clock to find a vixen out hunting in a long grass meadow. It seems that these meadows and fields support good vole populations and there is nothing quite so amusing as sitting with you back to a tree watching a fox trying to pin one down. The best bit is when they leap off all four paws, tail almost vertical. I watched this vixen do this several times in succesion being careful not to laugh to loud. When very excited after several leaps into the air she stood still again and flicked her tail from side to side like an excited dog.This was evidently hot work and several times she paused open mouthed, panting in the heat of the afternoon. After an hour of this she gave up and trotted out more into the centre of this field and dissapeared. After a few seconds only brush and backside appeared and then it went again and so it went on. It was obvious that she was busy digging something out and eventually she appeared, head and all with her substancial catch in her mouth. I couldnt work out what this was, too far away, maybe a rabbit nest! Job done she trotted off with the meal for her cubs. She came to the hedge, followed the line, jumped a ditch and then was gone.

The walk along the drive, in places, is really quite special. The ditches and woodland and underlying flora suggest patches of ancient woodland. Wild Garlic and Dogs Mercury cover the banks. There is a good selection of trees and here and it wasn't long before I picked up the scolding cheeeeeer of a Willow Tit. A Green Woodpecker called in the distance.

Also seen today:

Coot, Moorhen, Canadian Geese, Meadow Pipit, Song and Mistle Thrush. Grey Partridge, Buzzard, Chiffchaff.

MONDAY

Martin Grant 1220 - 1340hrs

Red Legged Partridge, Curlew, Lapwing 20, Little Grebe 3, male Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Canadian Geese and 2 Tree Sparrows

Jon Lloyd 1800-2000hrs

What a great day. A pity it had not been so nice over the weekend, but the evening was clear and warm at first and I wandered down late after tea to see what was about.The pool at the Grange was quiet though several Song Thrushes were giving it their best from tree tops in this area. Out on the field I found the fox hunting again in much the same place as before. It used the same technique and was obviously hunting voles in the grass here.

The re-seeded area near the farm turned up a good bag of small birds with a good number of Tree Sparrows, though it wasn't possible to count them tonight. A cock Yellowhammer and House Sparrow joined the birds already on the ground. I couldn't find the Little Owls tonight. The pools were busy and managed to count 5 Little Grebe though I suspect that the true number is 6. Coot and Moorhen were feeding at the waters edge and 4 Canadian Geese were up resting and preening to the left of the hide. Two further birds were coasting in the pools to the far right of the hide. Reed Buntings called from around the wetland and a single Meadow Pipit flew overhead.

In the distance a male Peregrine sat in the open ploughed field. It flew from time to time but not far before
settling back down in the same field. We had good views in the what was fairly good light. A fox crossed this
field later to the Strine Pipe, skirted along the ditch crossed somewhere and then eventually came under
the fence onto the wetland. The rabbits scappered!!A single Barn Owl appeared from nowhere, perhaps
sitting in he ditch beyond but treated the occupants of the hide to the most spectacular aerial display.
On one fly past the bird flew past the slotted hide windows staring in on those staring out. Eventually we
saw it go to roost.In the the gathering gloom a single Curlew and a Snipe called as they flew overhead.
Great evening

TUESDAY Pete Jordan 11-00 am.
Pete recorded 2 Swallows, 30 Fieldfares and a Sparrowhawk.

19-30 to 20-15 Swallow and the Barn Owl.

WEDNESDAYl Mick Parton 6-45 to 11-30

He recorded the Barn Owl at 10-05 AM, 6 Snipe, 2 Swallows, 2 Sand Martins,2 Red-Legged Partridge and 6 Tree Sparrows on the feeders.At 18-00 to 18-30 Ed Wilson had recorded 3 Swallows, 5 Fieldfare, 6 Teal, 5 Canada Geese, 2 Little Grebe, 7 Coot and 5 Moorhen.

Martin Grant
Hi Jon I have been to the Buttery Reservoir today Wednesday 9th April I was hoping some of the Mute Swans would be on the water. They were, as I walked down the Dukes Drive 36 Mute Swans were on the fields then 12 flew to join them off the reservoir followed by another 18. I arrived at the reservoir in time to see another 4 take off leaving just 2 on the reservoir and a pair on the adjoining pool. A total of66 Mute Swans another record number. You may think the numbers are just being added to by more birds arriving, but infact a lot are also leaving. There are not so many of last years cygnets as there were in February, the majority of the birds are mature non-breeding adults. I got another 16 ring numbers on Sunday I will send the details when I have compiled the list.Recorded today at the Buttery a Blackcap singing, also 4 Chiffchaffs, a Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming, 3 Cormorant on the reservoir and a pair of Red Legged Partridge. It is an excellent photograph of the Red Legged Partridge on the web site.Your count of 32 Tree Sparrows is a new record as far as I can see the previous maximum was 15 on 20th/ 27th January 2002 also your record. Cheers Martin

THURSDAY Martin Grant

Recorded 10 Yellowhammer in a loose flock, 2 Buzzards, 5 Canada Geese, 4 Teal. 2 Little Grebe at the far side of the pool that were taking material to build a nest. 16 Fieldfares flew through the marsh going north.It looks as though all the Swallow medals have gone I have missed out on them.