Sunday, March 28, 2010

Sounds Like Spring

The Spring Equinox but it was windy this morning, probably 20mph, wrong direction as well, so rather than trudge along to Lane Ends for a battering from the elements with probably little or no fresh migration I decided to head inland to the moss where I might find shelter.

The track goes eventually through to Nateby but I parked up before that, taking care to avoid blocking gateways, the way out for parked up farm vehicles due to recommence work from Saturday. In the fields several pairs of Lapwings cavorted noisily around, likewise a few migrant Curlew bubbled across the grass with one pair playing at breeding; but lowland breeding Curlew are pretty rare so whilst the Curlew’s bit of practice doesn’t get entered as a “B” on Birdtrack, the Lapwings do carry on to do the real deal.

Lapwings

Curlew

Two Buzzards called from the wood across, and in edge of the other wood nearest to me the Tree Sparrows at the nest boxes chip-chipped at my passing. The track grew quieter as I neared the more windswept parts of the farm, birds not obvious apart from 2 singing Corn Buntings and similar Skylarks, but I had to turn my head from the wind to hear them. I found a party of 30 Meadow Pipits on the deck near the topmost field, probable left over’s from the week as none were on the move this morning apart from when I disturbed them and they seep-seeped off.

Meadow Pipit

Corn Bunting

I spent some time near the barn where little flocks of Corn Bunting and Yellowhammers still refuse to accept it is spring and continue to search around the old tailings: 15 or so Corn Buntings and 4 Yellowhammer today with the usual attendant Chaffinch, flyover Goldfinch and Linnet plus a very smart spring attired Pied Wagtail that stayed a while.

Corn Bunting

Yellowhammer

Pied Wagtail

Pied Wagtail

Chaffinch

On the way back home I saw the Stock Dove pair at the usual tree. They didn’t hang around for me but I might have expected them to be on eggs by now and perhaps for one to stay in the holey tree. I stopped for a while to look for the Little Owls, and although one was calling very loudly from somewhere I couldn’t locate it from inside my car so hung fire with the camera for another day. Maybe it looked down on me from somewhere?

Little Owl

It was a nice afternoon, dry and sunny but cool, in fact a perfect day to hear from over the garden fence the one certain sound of a British spring, yes that’s right a lawnmower. Spring has arrived.

10 comments:

Müge Tekil said...

How wonderful that you saw so many various birds just in one day! You made great shots! The lapwings and the curlew are impressive, the Corn Bunting is very cute and the Little Owl is adorable! :-)

Stevie Evans said...

Enjoy reading this blog Phil.

Our neighbours only ever seem to cut the grass first thing on a morning or last thing at night - & all blooming day on a Bank Holiday !

SquirrelQueen said...

That is an amazing variety of birds for one day, great photos. My favorite is the little owl.
I have two American Robins and what I think is a European Starling on my post today.
The Road to Here

Bill Benish said...

A nice bird day for you! Extraordinary to see those Lapwings in flight. The Pied Wagtail is so handsome (or pretty?). Thanks for the link to my blog. I've linked you as well on mine.

Cheers!

Kelly said...

...you have a wonderful assortment of birds here! I LOVE the first photo of the Corn Bunting and that Little Owl is just stunning.

Mary Howell Cromer said...

Nice series and the two Lapwings are splendid, what a great shot you got~

Ayuwat Jearwattanakanok said...

Love the lapwings!
It's truly spring here now in Japan. Lots and lots of cherry blossom's going on...and lots of swallows too!

Phil Slade said...

Hi Mark, Lapwings are common and resident. Thanks to everyone for looking in again and your comments.

Madibirder said...

yes, springtime was always a great time when I was there.

Stuart Price said...

That top picture of the Lapwings is great.

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