Well here we are again with another update on whats been on the patch in the week and Saturday. The only highlight from midweek was an Tawny Owl which called briefly on Wednesday evening.
I managed to get out on Friday afternoon and it was evident that spring is on its way ,however the first birds seen were a flock of 25 Fieldfare, the rest would of appeared to have moved on northwards.
The floods have receded but there are still large areas of water and there were still the usual Gull flock 300/400 birds Black Headed ,Common, and Lesser Black Backed Gulls in that order being present.
On the meadows 8 Skylarks were present with up to 5 singing, there were also 38 plus Meadow Pipits ,a sure sign of spring migration these birds will be as high north as Iceland come the summer months ,awesome really when you think about it.
Overhead a very high flying flock of some 200 plus Starling headed north east ,leaving us for northern climes for the summer.
The best of the rest were 12 Stock Dove 2 female Kestrel and 6 Buzzards
One of the things that happens when you become as the only" birder in the village " is that sometimes neighbours bring you pictures of birds that they cannot id themselves ,this happened yesterday when I was presented with a picture of an unusual Pheasant that visited next doors garden, my eyes nearly popped out of my head when I realised that it was a male Amherst "s Pheasant ,a bird I have not seen but you cannot count it as I did not see it myself. There is a small feral population in Buckinghamshire so what a bird was doing here is any ones guess .
I did not get out until Saturday lunchtime and the weather was stunning ,a really great spring day. It is sometimes what you do not see as much as what you do and with only 2 Fieldfare and 4 Redwing it appears that they will all be gone soon until next October .
On the meadows at 1500 Gulls were present ,all the usual species although there seemed to be many more Common Gulls than of late ,these birds will also be off north soon. A lone Lapwing flew downriver .
On the pastures 11 Skylark were in good voice and there were 2 flocks of Meadow Pipits which totalled 41 plus birds.
A Mistle Thrush passed over as did a flock of 85 plus Starling . There were 50 plus Woodpigeon in a flock as well and a male Sparrow hawk was patrolling the hedges.
The best of the rest were a Red Legged Partridge ,Buzzard ,Pied Wagtail ( a big drop from the numbers the other day), and 8 Stock Dove.
Lets see what tomorrow brings .
