Today was the first day of our Peregrine monitoring. Ian and I had a shift from 8am-11am and so I got there at 6:30am to have 90 minutes around the hides before heading to the sailing club.
It was pretty cold with the wind having swung around to the north and it felt as though spring migration may be halted as a result. Yesterday’s Reed Warbler was singing again near B Water gate and a Blackcap and a Cetti’s Warbler were singing from where JV hide used to be. As I was heading back across the cattle field I heard a Sedge Warbler behind me, I headed back. I tracked it down to the white flowering Blackthorn near B Water hide and although I got a recording of its song I didn’t see it. This is my earliest ever Sedge Warbler.
an early Reed Warbler
I chatted with Clay on the way back and so I was slightly late back to the sailing club to join Ian. The Peregrine monitoring was uneventual although not for a Woodpigeon who appeared from the west in the talons of the male. The male handed over his catch to the larger female and she spent the next 90 minutes devouring it while the male stood with back turned 20 yards away.
I had to leave earlier today and I was almost home when, at 11:42am , Clay reported a pair of Little Ringed Plover on the pools near MMs house. I quickly u-turned and texted Clay and Ian to ask them to stay on the birds if possible. Thankfully they were still present when I arrived and I joined Ian at around 12:10pm.
Little Ringed Plover pair bottom left photo by Ian Williamson
Amazing to think these attractive waders may have been in Senegal just a few days ago. They certainly looked tired as they rested on the mud below the sea-watching bush.
Patch Birding 