31st
March
Nice and dry again with a light
but chilly northerly airflow still; presumably the same Blackcap was singing
near Benthall Farm (with two still singing near Wyke), 3 Snipe, a Heron, 6
Chiffchaffs and quite a few Redwings still with 19 at The Vineyards and 18 at
Benthall Hall – 42 species.
1st
April
Overcast and still a bit chilly
but not bad really; the highlight of today’s visit to Benthall was a pair of Peregrines on pylons
just to the north of Benthall Hall (both adults which really should be on eggs
now…). Other birds included two singing
Blackcaps now on site (plus a couple of new singing birds at Wyke and along
Benthall Edge), a good count of 42 Meadow Pipits – a migrant flock of 20+ at
Benthall Hall and several groups purposefully heading NW, still a few Redwings
around with odd ones along Benthall Edge (which were giving little bursts of
sub-song) and a flock of 14 high over Benthall Farm, a Snipe, a Sparrowhawk, a
Kestrel and 6 Chiffchaffs. A Red Kite flew west over Wyke at
lunchtime and two hirundines seen heading high north over The Vineyards were
probably Swallows but were too far away to be sure – 41 species.
2nd
April
Fairly quiet on patch with a Red
Kite over Benthall Edge finally making the list and a steady trickle of Meadow
Pipits heading NW finally totalling 40+ in small flocks regularly moving
through; three flocks of Woodpigeons totalling 25 birds were also seemingly
heading in the same direction. The real
excitement came after dark though with a flock of Common
Scoters heard heading north at 22:05
(just luck that I was outside at that time) – part of a big overland movement
recorded right across the country, these at the best guess, would have been
moving up country from the Severn Estuary to the North Wales coast before
heading eastwards across the Pennines to Yorkshire (where most of the records
came from) and back out towards Scandinavia – 39 species.
3rd
April
A nice day, plenty of sunshine
but still a bit of a chilly SW wind; birds seen on the daily rove to Benthall
included 2 Peregrines again but this time it was
an adult male seriously seeing off a 2cy male over Benthall Edge, 3 soaring
Sparrowhawks, endless Buzzards, still a handful of Redwings and Fieldfares, still
a trickle of Meadow Pipits going NW (although today they were higher up and
most of them were only heard), one singing Blackcap, three Little Grebes and 11
Snipe (first double figure count for a while).
There was a single male Wheatear in the traditional field up the Cart-track and
three Red Kites were over Wyke – two messing around low and another very high
up, purposefully heading SW – 41 species.
4th
April
A nice day but still a chilly
wind; birds on the walk included the first 2 Sand Martins of the year west across the fields, still a
trickle of Meadow Pipits heading NW and 11 Redwing. There was then a good flock of 46 Fieldfares
at Wyke while a Red Kite went over – 40 species.
5th
April
Partly sunny but with a brisk
southerly wind; there seemed to be a bit of movement across the area but there
was no pattern to it with my first 3 Swallows
heading west (a one and a two), 3 Sand Martins – one north over The Vineyards and two east
over Water Lane, 22 Linnets heading SW (including a flock of 16), 2 Siskins
west and a handful of Meadow Pipits heading NW as usual. Other birds included my first singing Willow Warbler by Benthall Hall, distant
Red Kite, Peregrine, Cormorant and Lesser Black-backed Gull over Benthall Edge,
two displaying Lapwings over fields to the SE of the patch and an increase to
14+ Chiffchaffs – 49 species (the best total so far).
6th April
Generally a lovely day with
plenty of sunshine, although there were a couple of showers and a brisk wind
(not as strong as yesterday though); the showers probably led to a brilliant ‘fall’
of 23+ Willow Warblers concentrated around the
pools (five at Pool One, eleven at Pool Two and seven at Watery Lane), there
were also at least 15
Chiffchaffs around
as well; it was great to stand there with multiple Phylloscs flicking around in
the trees – just like a coastal arrival!
Other birds included my first House Martin
of the year high over Benthall Edge, at least 5 Swallows through, a
Sparrowhawk, loads of Buzzards, 15+ Lesser Black-backed Gulls high to the
north, 2 Snipe, a Red Kite, a handful of Redwings still in the woods along
Benthall Edge and a good count of 36 Linnets while a handful of Meadow Pipits
and a Siskin went NW. The Long-tailed
Tit nest that I’ve been following is now a completed dome, five days after
being started – 46 species.
Willow Warblers
Long-tailed Tit putting the finishing touches to the outside of her nest
Blackcap
Reed Bunting
Blackbird
Robin
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