Dear all,
I had a productive and sunny morning at Bough Beech where spring migrants were aplenty ( or as aplenty as Bough Beech gets in my humble experience!).
A Chiffchaff was singing in a tree by the causeway and was soon joined by a Cuckoo, my first of the year. The leader of a birding group showed me the tree branch upon which it was perched and showing well. My first of the year.
A 'tu-tu-tu' call from a wader flying onto the North lake at 9:30am drew my attention to a Greenshank which literally stayed to preen for a minute before flying off across the main reservoir calling. Again, my first of the spring.
Walking down the track to the Oast House, a White Wagtail was feeding briefly with a Pied Wagtail until both flew off. Following the footpath uphill to a strip of woodland festooned with bluebells, my first Willow Warbler was singing from a tree top showing its yellow tinted underparts.
Later in the morning, a Whimbrel flew over the main reservoir calling but didn't settle - I've not seen one at Bough Beech before, but I'm not a regular visitor, more a seasonal migrant.
The Common Scoters were mere dots in the far distance and I've probably seen closer ones on sea-watches, but I can't really complain can I?
It was a most enjoyable morning out. If only Bough Beech was like that more often (apologies to Bough beech regulars).
Lancey
I had a productive and sunny morning at Bough Beech where spring migrants were aplenty ( or as aplenty as Bough Beech gets in my humble experience!).
A Chiffchaff was singing in a tree by the causeway and was soon joined by a Cuckoo, my first of the year. The leader of a birding group showed me the tree branch upon which it was perched and showing well. My first of the year.
A 'tu-tu-tu' call from a wader flying onto the North lake at 9:30am drew my attention to a Greenshank which literally stayed to preen for a minute before flying off across the main reservoir calling. Again, my first of the spring.
Walking down the track to the Oast House, a White Wagtail was feeding briefly with a Pied Wagtail until both flew off. Following the footpath uphill to a strip of woodland festooned with bluebells, my first Willow Warbler was singing from a tree top showing its yellow tinted underparts.
Later in the morning, a Whimbrel flew over the main reservoir calling but didn't settle - I've not seen one at Bough Beech before, but I'm not a regular visitor, more a seasonal migrant.
The Common Scoters were mere dots in the far distance and I've probably seen closer ones on sea-watches, but I can't really complain can I?
It was a most enjoyable morning out. If only Bough Beech was like that more often (apologies to Bough beech regulars).
Lancey
