Scary

Conder Green had a good going over again this morning. Although the results weren't startling, the good selection of species and numbers meant there was always something for interest and entertainment in this quiet time for birding.

I'll begin with the waders. A pair of Oystercatchers on the pool have two good sized young, the adults being their usual protective and demonstrative selves by scaring off anyone or anything which came too close to make sure their chicks stayed low to the ground.  Luckily there aren't too many Carrion Crows hereabouts, just the local Magpies.

Oystercatcher

Oystercatcher

Redshanks have increased to 65 in the immediate creek and 20+ from the railway bridge = 85+ today. A single Common Sandpiper was back this morning, plus 3 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Curlew and 3 Lapwing. Bridge Over The River Conder also yielded 125+ Mute Swan and 2 Grey Heron. 

Common Sandpiper

The Oystercatchers weren't the only ones on parental duties as two pair of Shelduck have 11 young between them, a six and a five of much the same almost half-size ducklings. A pair of Canada Goose still with two goslings and 2 pair of Mallard with 10+ young. Other wildfowl - Wigeon now depleted to 2 birds, 14 Tufted Duck, 1 Goldeneye. 

The mozzy type insects were swarming again this morning, a bonanza which drew in a constant stream of hirundines and Swifts. The notebook says 30+ Swift, 20 Sand Martin, 20 House Martin and 20 Swallows – counts that can be guesstimates only but might give an inkling as to the visible and audible action of so many small birds hawking the hedgerow. 

Numbers of “small stuff” as in 5 Linnet, 6 Goldfinch, 2 Pied Wagtail, 1 Meadow Pipit, 1 Whitethroat, 4 Greenfinch, 2 Reed Bunting and 5 Tree Sparrow. A single Stock Dove feeding near the pool edges may well be a new bird for me at this site - must check. 

Tree Sparrow

Stock Dove

Back home and during a walk around the village all seemed quiet except for two singing Chiffchaffs, a couple of Whitethroats and the Buzzards down the lane towards the river. Sue suddenly said “Why don't you use your grubby old birding clothes to enter the village Scarecrow Competition?” I declined by admitting that I'm not too good at those Blue Peter type things but I'm not too sure if that's what Sue had in mind. 

Scarecrows 

Scarecrow

Scarecrows

Scarecrow

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