Birdwatcher’s Diary No.107

Published on: 30 Apr, 2016
Updated on: 30 Apr, 2016

By Malcolm Fincham

Having spent most of the waking hours of my life in what I consider to be the great outdoors, I’m often convinced that the wildlife that surrounds us has a far greater awareness than most can possibly perceive.

A cuckoo, for example, having never known its parents, knows exactly where to migrate to in late summer, (long after the adults) and knows just when to return.

Many of our long-distance avian migrants that arrive in the UK are remarkably regular in their arrival dates, and that’s a crucial part of their continued survival. It ensures that individuals arrive in their nesting areas just as environmental conditions become suitable for breeding, and then leave before they change.

But some birds, especially the ones dependant on insects to feed on, seem to adjust to variations in weather that occurs from year to year, which suggests that their migratory instincts are triggered by some sort of external information.

Continuing our quest to add new sightings, summer arrivals continued to be a very slow this year.

A view across one of the lagoons at Farlington Marshes. Click on all images to enlarge in a new window.

Arriving at Farlington Marshes near Portsmouth Harbour on April 17 with good friends, Bob and Dougal, the first thing I noticed was that although the weather remained unseasonably cool, all the brent geese had now departed, their internal clocks had insisted, the time had come for them to make their 2,500-mile journey back to their breeding grounds in Siberia.

A godwit (left) coming into summer plumage, (right) still in winter plumage. 

Black-tailed godwits could still be viewed there, although much fewer than on my previous visit, just a few weeks before. Some now coming into their lovely summer plumage, as they prepared for their flight north, towards their Arctic breeding ground.

A weasel spotted at Farlington.

I’m guessing it must have been a good winter for weasels surviving, as having pictured one in Surrey just a few weeks ago, Bob pointed one out as it scurried along the water’s edge of an inland ditch by the sea wall, giving the opportunity to snatch a few pictures, before it disappeared into the long grass.

Open to the elements, as we walked the sea wall, it felt like mid-winter as an icy breeze blew in our faces.

Shoveler at Farlington.

A few wintering shovelers still remained in and around the lagoons.

A raven flies over Farlington Marshes.

A pair of ravens flew over, instantly recognised by their diamond-shaped tails.

Linnet at Farlington.

Linnets could also be seen among the brambles in good number.

Wheatear.

It wasn’t until about half way around the reserve that we finally managed to catch sight of our first summer migrant there. Three wheatears could be seen in a field, recognised by their white rumps, in flight.

Male blackcap at Farlington.

Soon after we managed to pick out a blackcap, one of several we eventually saw there that day.

Female blackcap at Farlington.

This included the rarer sight of a female blackcap, distinguished by its copper-coloured head, I picked out with my camera as it skulked around among some brambles.

Willow warbler at Farlington.

Along the same hedgerow we were then enlightened by the sound of a willow warbler, one of a number we eventually saw that day.

Tree pipit at Farlington.

Adding to the summer arrivals was a tree pipit, singing short bursts of its song, reminiscent to the sound that its batteries were running down. 

Small tortoiseshell.

Leaving the seawall and the ‘cold winds to Valhalla’ behind us, we headed down the path towards the information hut. Surprised at how warm the sun was, away from the wind up on the sea wall, we were delighted to spot our first and only butterfly of the day. A small tortoiseshell.

Redstart at Farlington.

Looking across the field we also caught sight of a male redstart as it sat by a fencepost.

Cetti’s warbler shows an identity ring-tag on its leg at Farlington.

Close to the hut, we could hear the usual, constant sound of a Cetti’s warbler. By remaining patient (while eating our sandwiches) eventually I was able to get a few photos of this elusive but noisy critter, as it skulked about in a hawthorn bush.

Spoonbill at Farlington.

My personal favourite sighting there that day, however, had to be that of two spoonbills.

Spoonbill flies over Langstone Harbour at Farlington.

Having spent most of the time while we were at the reserve, some distance away across the fields, one of them decided to take flight. This gave me some good photo opportunities as it circled around the reserve.

Spoonbill comes in to land in the harbour at Farlington.

As a bonus to me, with the tide so far out at the time, it came to rest for a while in Langstone Harbour. This gave me the chance to add a few extra shots of this most unusual bird.

Back home on my local patch at Stoke Nature Reserve, signs of summer were starting to show with the habits of our resident birds.

Song thrush.

Song thrushes could be heard constantly singing their repertoire of repetitive, but melodious song.

Blackbird collecting food for its young.

A blackbird could be seen collecting mouthfuls of worms it had collected to feed to its young.

Swallow hawking over Stoke Lake.

Over the sewage works as well as Stoke Lake, swallows were starting to build up in numbers, taking advantage of the insect population, as they arrived from their long trip back from Africa.

Swallow flying low over tern raft at Stoke Lake.

Homing in on areas were the flies where most abundant.

Swallows taking a well earned rest by Slyfield sewage works.

House martin hawking over Stoke Lake.

Checking through the arrivals, before they distributed to their breeding locations, a few house martins could be seen, adding to the feeding frenzy.

Great crested grebe now in summer plumage.

Great crested grebes usually perform their amazing ‘penguin dance’ in February to early March. It’s all part of an elaborate courtship display, which starts with a lot of head shaking and fluffing out their head crest feathers.

Great crested grebes – It must be love!

The performance ends with both birds rising up on the water, paddling like crazy, and presenting each other with a piece of pond weed. In this upright position the birds resemble a pair of penguins.

It was of some surprise to me, therefore, on April 23 (and for several days after) to see them performing this ritual. I was especially pleased, as although I have witnessed it on a few occasions in previous years, it was the first time I’ve ever managed to get photos.

Kingfisher in flight ‘like a bullet from a gun’ (female) at Stoke Lake.

Also patrolling the lake that evening was a kingfisher.

Kingfisher (female) at Stoke Lake.

Although the light by then was starting to fade, I did manage a few shots of it, as it flew, bullet-like, just above the surface of the water. On close inspection of some of the photos I took, by noticing its lower mandible was orange, rather than black, denoting that it must have been a female.

Bluebells out in flower.

With things starting to hot up (hopefully the weather too), and bluebells now in bloom, I can see I’ll be having a challenging time, staying up to date in the next few weeks. Well, I will certainly do my best!

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