No more Bramblings, but a pair of Siskins and a Redpoll caught and ringed in the garden, together with a Treecreeper was pleasing. So to L. CyD at 7pm to refill the feeders. All the usual, but interestingly, 2 pairs of Shelduck, 14 Tufted, 3 pairs of Teal, a pair of Wigeon, pair of G. C. Grebe, Dabchick, Oystercatcher, immature Herring Gull, 8 L. B.B. Gull, 14 Lapwing, and then a lot of panic as a male Sparrowhawk flew along the water's edge. No hirundines....until the clouds rolled in and rain threatened, and suddenly there were 40 Sand Martin, 20 Swallow and 2 House Martin low over the lake. I thought the Reed Warbler that started to sing from the reed bed in front of the hide was going to be the icing on the cake...... until a pair of Yellow Wagtails touched down briefly. A Rather Good Day!
(Go to the top of the class anyone who identified the top image as a Short-Toed T/C -taken in Portugal in February -the lower image was today in the garden!)
A very good day indeed! Thanks for all yor hard work at LCyD to make it such a good place for birds and visitors alike! Good to know that the reed warbler is back. We haven't seen a yellow wagtail for many years now - what a treat. Had a thought about the sand martin bank last time I was there. Just an idea - could it be that the sand martins don't like the fact that the water doesn't come up to the base of the bank? - wondered if they might be concerned about predators approaching from below.
ReplyDeleteSuper little bird Chris, I was lucky enough to see Short-Toed T C in Spain about 2 years ago.
ReplyDeleteGreat that the Reed Warbler is back, I would love to get a decent shot of a Sedge W this year.
The Great Spotted WP seems to be busy drumming from your garden too.