After a wash out yesterday I did manage to get a walk out today. Starting off along Potter Lane I spotted a small bird hopping on and off the fence posts. It was a smart female Stonechat…
Although they are a generally common bird they are very rare in the
parish with this being only the fourth modern record. A very nice addition to
the year list. Further along the Linnet flock in the cover crop was down to
around 100 birds now but I also flushed
a Grey Partridge here, almost from under my feet.
Earlier that morning I had put out on the parish wildlife
WhatsApp group to keep a look out for Whooper Swans as they were starting to move
north. Almost on cue I picked up their fantastic call and a skein of 13 birds
swept over me…
I got a text from a friend a few minutes later as the same
birds passed over Bolton-on-Swale which is just under eight miles as the swan
flies. Taking the timings of the two that would put them averaging about 52
miles per hour. Not a bad lick considering there was no following wind (and
helps to explain why my photo was only of them retreating rapidly into the
distance!)
The river levels were very high so there was little to see,
but a Grey Wagtail flew over and I saw my first Lesser Redpoll of the year.
There were two pairs of Oystercatchers along here too. I have
never been sure whether these early birds are just passing through or are our local
birds. The answer came with the appearance of a wandering single bird. In both
cases the pairs acted very aggressively towards the interloper, driving him
off. So they are clearly paired and holding territory…
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