Sunday 22 April 2012

Slow Day

As the above says , it was a slow day on the patch, in fact to be honest its been a slow spring with some very noticable absentees or if not absent only present in low numbers. I saw that on the Portland website Whitethroats appear very scarce , the same could be said of our local House Martins. On the log today were 3 CHIFFCHAFF, 4 BLACKCAP, 4 LINNET,just 1 WHEATEAR in the sheep fields, 5 BUZZARDS, 4 Skylark, the GREATER SPOTTED WOODPECKER at it"s nest tree. Fantastic views of a male CUCKOO on telephone wires , I have yet to hear him call yet.6 Swallow over, a male Sparrowhawk soaring overhead.In the top fields 3 PIED WAGTAILS were kept company by a rather smart WHITE WAGTAIL. Lets hope that the late arrivals are just that and not a sign of a greater problem.