birdman
Tuesday 30th March 2004, 18:45
After a week away, Sunday was our first chance to go outback on our return.
As I’m writing this two days after the event, some of the details are already a bit sketchy (must be my age!!!) but the most obvious change in the past two weeks is that Spring has most definitely arrived!
We were regaled with song by numerous Skylarks, probably more than I have recorded, but as most of the ids are by ear, and I can only hear som many things at once, I think I may have understated.
It was nice to see a pair of Tufties on the pond again, and the return of a Grey Heron is welcome. The water level has dropped, although it still looks a bit deep for heron to me!
We soon heard Green Woodpecker, from at least three different locations. Later (and there was some debate about this) we saw three birds in the air at the same time. I was convince a fourth emerged, but I was outvoted by my cohorts and three is the recorded number.
Partnyorsha also spied two Partridges, but a definite id eluded her.
Then, as week reached wooded area near the hotel, we heard the song of a Chiffchaff – our first warbler of the year.
I really have no idea if we have any wintering individuals around here, but to here a singing bird surely means Summer is on the way.
Taking advantage of the still largely bare branches, we were able to follow the singing to get a not very good view, but a view nonetheless of the vocalist.
Three Buzzards is a record for my outback I think, although a bit paltry after last week’s excursion, and Black-headed Gulls seem to have left.
The highlight without doubt though, was the Chiffchaff.
Plain text = Outback day tick
Bold text = Outback year tick
Bold italic text = Outback life tick
(Number in brackets is highest number of individuals identified at one time)
Skylark : 6 (2)
Mallard : 14 (8)
Moorhen : 6 (3)
Coot : 3 (2)
Tufted Duck : 2 (2)
Magpie : 8 (3)
Woodpigeon : 13 (7)
Grey Heron : 1 (1)
Blue Tit : 6 (2)
Green Woodpecker : 3 (3)
Coal Tit : 4 (4)
Chaffinch : 8 (3)
Long-tailed Tit : 3 (2)
Carrion Crow : 3 (2)
Jay : 1 (1)
Buzzard : 3 (3)
Great Tit : 5 (2)
Pheasant : 3 (1)
Chiffchaff : 1 (1)
Blackbird : 2 (1)
Black-headed Gull : 1 (1)
As I’m writing this two days after the event, some of the details are already a bit sketchy (must be my age!!!) but the most obvious change in the past two weeks is that Spring has most definitely arrived!
We were regaled with song by numerous Skylarks, probably more than I have recorded, but as most of the ids are by ear, and I can only hear som many things at once, I think I may have understated.
It was nice to see a pair of Tufties on the pond again, and the return of a Grey Heron is welcome. The water level has dropped, although it still looks a bit deep for heron to me!
We soon heard Green Woodpecker, from at least three different locations. Later (and there was some debate about this) we saw three birds in the air at the same time. I was convince a fourth emerged, but I was outvoted by my cohorts and three is the recorded number.
Partnyorsha also spied two Partridges, but a definite id eluded her.
Then, as week reached wooded area near the hotel, we heard the song of a Chiffchaff – our first warbler of the year.
I really have no idea if we have any wintering individuals around here, but to here a singing bird surely means Summer is on the way.
Taking advantage of the still largely bare branches, we were able to follow the singing to get a not very good view, but a view nonetheless of the vocalist.
Three Buzzards is a record for my outback I think, although a bit paltry after last week’s excursion, and Black-headed Gulls seem to have left.
The highlight without doubt though, was the Chiffchaff.
Plain text = Outback day tick
Bold text = Outback year tick
Bold italic text = Outback life tick
(Number in brackets is highest number of individuals identified at one time)
Skylark : 6 (2)
Mallard : 14 (8)
Moorhen : 6 (3)
Coot : 3 (2)
Tufted Duck : 2 (2)
Magpie : 8 (3)
Woodpigeon : 13 (7)
Grey Heron : 1 (1)
Blue Tit : 6 (2)
Green Woodpecker : 3 (3)
Coal Tit : 4 (4)
Chaffinch : 8 (3)
Long-tailed Tit : 3 (2)
Carrion Crow : 3 (2)
Jay : 1 (1)
Buzzard : 3 (3)
Great Tit : 5 (2)
Pheasant : 3 (1)
Chiffchaff : 1 (1)
Blackbird : 2 (1)
Black-headed Gull : 1 (1)