Welney WWT Trip – Sunday 6th April 2014
My partner and I decided to go to Welney WWT for a Sunday walkabout the reserve, mainly to see what bird life there was there in mid-April time. :-O
Today’s weather was a little unpredictable. Rain was not too much of an issue for us, as long as it did not rain as that would spoil things for us. :gh:
We arrived at the end of the A428 road, and continued onto the A421 motorway. This was when got my first sighting of a Kestrel hovering in mid-air. Its feathers splayed open, like a fan; head still, while it surveyed the area for food. The bird looked down while looking into the grass verge on the hunt for food.
The verges of the motorway had become grassy, and lush over the past few weekends. Plenty of hiding places for rodents, and small animals to hide. Lots of Rooks, Crows and Magpies walked about the area continuing their quest to hunt for grubs, and insects in the same manner as the Kestrel but on ground level only. There was no shortage of Woodpigeons in flight while they lumbered their way across the roadway o
Vast areas of land contained Oil Seed Rape growing in yellow blankets of fields. The white blossom of the bushes stood out, and made the sceanery summery, and bright. The colours brightened up the area, and it brought a smile to ones face.
Pleasant, warm weather was about now for April time. The flora, budding trees, and fauna made its presence known everywhere we looked.
We continued towards the Black Cat Roundabout passing by many Rookeries, the bedraggled nests high up in trees, and the Rooks perched on the branches close to their nests. The higher the trees the bigger attraction it was for the Crows. I was under the impression that the ‘Rookeries’ have increased in number a whole lot over the past 4 years or so. This has been noted after many trips past the same areas over the years to visit the same favourite reserves that we go to on a daily basis. There is a notable difference now with Rooks, and how well they are doing as a species now.
Then Kestrel number 2 appeared at the side of the motorway in the sky hovering as the previous one did in mid-air outside the passenger window. I looked up at the bird’s undercarriage on the way past. The hunt for food was there due to the time of year. The breeding period of the Kestrel would be apparant now in April, and they would be busy as many other birds are raising their families now o
Lots of Rooks walked about the road side, while they grazed on the verges close to the road side in their own unique, gentle, dainty way. They picked up worms, and grubs from the grass, and it was interesting to study. Lots of Danadelions had flowered, and the place was full of yellow and white. A newly ‘ploughed’ field was full of wandering Black Headed Gulls searching for inects and tit bits on the ground. The Gulls where at different stages in their lifes – some had black coloured heads, and other juveniles had not – but still remained in the group close together making their calls to one another in a hive of communication.
Many Crows, and Magpies made their way over the roadway in two's mainly – some with nesting material in their bills. A Magpie took a risk and decided to land in the middle roadway to pick up some nesting material, and with precision timing flew off in the nick of time as cars flew by in all directions. There is nothing cheekier than a member of the Crow family taking risks as they do.
1. Bird sighting board in the Welney Visitors Centre for the 6th April 2014
2. Welney Plaque
3. Observatory Hide
4. Diary Notes from the Observatory Hide
5. My OH outside Welney Visitors Centre
continued...
My partner and I decided to go to Welney WWT for a Sunday walkabout the reserve, mainly to see what bird life there was there in mid-April time. :-O
Today’s weather was a little unpredictable. Rain was not too much of an issue for us, as long as it did not rain as that would spoil things for us. :gh:
We arrived at the end of the A428 road, and continued onto the A421 motorway. This was when got my first sighting of a Kestrel hovering in mid-air. Its feathers splayed open, like a fan; head still, while it surveyed the area for food. The bird looked down while looking into the grass verge on the hunt for food.
The verges of the motorway had become grassy, and lush over the past few weekends. Plenty of hiding places for rodents, and small animals to hide. Lots of Rooks, Crows and Magpies walked about the area continuing their quest to hunt for grubs, and insects in the same manner as the Kestrel but on ground level only. There was no shortage of Woodpigeons in flight while they lumbered their way across the roadway o
Vast areas of land contained Oil Seed Rape growing in yellow blankets of fields. The white blossom of the bushes stood out, and made the sceanery summery, and bright. The colours brightened up the area, and it brought a smile to ones face.
Pleasant, warm weather was about now for April time. The flora, budding trees, and fauna made its presence known everywhere we looked.
We continued towards the Black Cat Roundabout passing by many Rookeries, the bedraggled nests high up in trees, and the Rooks perched on the branches close to their nests. The higher the trees the bigger attraction it was for the Crows. I was under the impression that the ‘Rookeries’ have increased in number a whole lot over the past 4 years or so. This has been noted after many trips past the same areas over the years to visit the same favourite reserves that we go to on a daily basis. There is a notable difference now with Rooks, and how well they are doing as a species now.
Then Kestrel number 2 appeared at the side of the motorway in the sky hovering as the previous one did in mid-air outside the passenger window. I looked up at the bird’s undercarriage on the way past. The hunt for food was there due to the time of year. The breeding period of the Kestrel would be apparant now in April, and they would be busy as many other birds are raising their families now o
Lots of Rooks walked about the road side, while they grazed on the verges close to the road side in their own unique, gentle, dainty way. They picked up worms, and grubs from the grass, and it was interesting to study. Lots of Danadelions had flowered, and the place was full of yellow and white. A newly ‘ploughed’ field was full of wandering Black Headed Gulls searching for inects and tit bits on the ground. The Gulls where at different stages in their lifes – some had black coloured heads, and other juveniles had not – but still remained in the group close together making their calls to one another in a hive of communication.
Many Crows, and Magpies made their way over the roadway in two's mainly – some with nesting material in their bills. A Magpie took a risk and decided to land in the middle roadway to pick up some nesting material, and with precision timing flew off in the nick of time as cars flew by in all directions. There is nothing cheekier than a member of the Crow family taking risks as they do.
1. Bird sighting board in the Welney Visitors Centre for the 6th April 2014
2. Welney Plaque
3. Observatory Hide
4. Diary Notes from the Observatory Hide
5. My OH outside Welney Visitors Centre
continued...