Birdwatcher’s Diary No.85

Published on: 16 Apr, 2015
Updated on: 16 Apr, 2015

By Malcolm Fincham

With my best lens taking a tumble, things were looking grim. Hampered by my misfortunes, I continued my quest to bring up-to-date photos for my latest report.

Although due to cost an arm and a leg to repair, I tried to remain philosophical as my wife kindly had it despatched off on a holiday to Japan for attention. At least it will hopefully just be just a metaphorical ‘arm and leg’ and I will still be fortunate enough to be able to walk some of my favourite spots and snap a few shots on my ‘lesser’ camera, for the time being.

Fortunately, some good sunny days during the past two weeks helped me to get some reasonable pictures.

Blackcap at Stoke Nature Reserve.

On April 6 as I walked the towpath to Stoke Lock I was welcomed by my first sight and sound of a blackcap as it sang – just across the river in the bright afternoon sunshine.

Painted lady at Stoke Nature Reserve.

For the first time also, butterflies appeared in abundance, with numerous peacocks and brimstones, as well as small tortoiseshells and painted ladies.

Comma at Stoke Nature Reserve.

Even a few commas could be added to my list of sightings so far this year.

Queen bumble bee out from hibernation.

Also in the warm sunshine, queen bumblebees had now began to emerge from their winter hibernation, feeding on the blossom  now in flower. 

Lesser celandine.

Adding to the spring colour along the towpath and among the hedgerows lesser celandine had now burst into flower.

Drake shoveler on flooded field by Stoke Lock.

Out on the flooded field by Stoke Lock a few of our winter wildfowl visitors could still be viewed. These included shoveler (with their noticeably long bills).

Drake and duck gadwall on flooded field by Stoke Lock.

Several pairs of gadwall could also be seen.

Teal.

Although fewer teal could now be viewed.

Egyptian Goose near Stoke Lock.

An Egyptian goose could be seen perched on a dead tree stump.

Egyptian goose takes flight near Stoke Lake.

And again later flying across the field by the flooded area.

Drake and duck tufted duck on Stoke Lake.

On Stoke Lake over the last few weeks tufted duck had dwindled in number, counting a maximum of eight most days.

A coot on its nest.

Several coot had already taken up positions on their newly built nests.

Kingfisher at Stoke Lake.

On a number of visits a kingfisher continued to be viewed, often in the sallows by the lake, although far too canny for me to get a close-up shot.

Great crested grebe on Stoke Lake.

The great crested grebes can be seen now looking vibrant in full summer plumage.

Singing robin.

Chiffchaffs seemed to now be the lead singers as I walked the reserve. Although robins and wrens remained among the many keen to join in with the chorus.

A blackbird sings at Stoke Nature Reserve.

With the additional fluting sound of a blackbird occasionally adding to the symphony.

Many of our resident birds could now be actively seen nest building, this included a female chaffinch I spotted collecting moss, with other some other birds reportedly already feeding young.

Swallow over Stoke Lake.

But it wasn’t until April 8 that I saw the first true summer migrant flying over Stoke Nature Reserve. A swallow back from its winter stay in Africa, briefly circling to hawk high-flying insects, before continuing its journey north.

As the saying goes: ‘one swallow doesn’t make a summer’!  But for me having already seen two on April 3 as well as five sand martins, while visiting Tice’s meadow near Tongham, my optimism was high.

Drake and duck mandarin.

Walking out along the towpath towards Bowers Lock I continued to view mandarin ducks. Not just in the river but often perched in trees.

Adult male kestrel.

A kestrel could often be viewed hovering in the field across the river towards Bowers Court Farm, occasionally perching in a tree nearby to allow me a photo.

Sun sinks over Slyfield.

While on the many pleasant evenings as I returned along the towpath, the romantic sight of sun sinking low over the Slyfield recycling depot could be viewed.

On a pleasantly sunny, Sunday, April 12, I decided to treat my wife to a trip to Pulborough Brooks, RSPB in West Sussex.

With a view across the Brooks looking rather depleted of the winter visiting wildfowl, most of which had moved on to their more northerly breeding grounds.

A view across the Brooks at Pulborough.

The landscape looked quite empty with a small gathering of the dark, local morph fallow deer that are resident at the reserve. Just a few lapwing (also known as green plover) could be seen wheeling around over the scrapes.

Little ringed plover at Pulborough.

However, while looking out from one of the hides, I saw three of their smaller relatives, little ringed plovers, giving me some great close-up views and a few decent photos.

Willow warbler sings at Pulborough Brooks.

Among the only notable sightings and sounds around the reserve were that of blackcaps, chiffchaffs and one willow warbler singing its heart out having made its epic journey back from Africa.

Nightingale at Pulborough Brooks.

However, one other bird had arrived just the previous day and was already making its presence known with its iconic song – the nightingale.

Nightingale.

One of my many true favourites and always a pleasure to hear.

Nightingale at Pulborough Brooks showing its rufous-coloured tail.

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