Out4aduck - A record of my birding year: May 2022

Thursday, 26 May 2022

Peregrines, cricket & cakes galore....

Feeding time for young family

Grey Wagtail on the canal

Worcester celebrate vistory

Josh Baker who played for me for three years bowling

Cakes to die for

Perfect lunch stop

Saturdays this year are a lot more chilled with no rare birds to twitch. We had a lovely day in Worcester taking in a days play at New Road, lunch at the stunning Commandry (simply best toasties and cakes anywhere) and riverside walk stopping at the cathedreal to see the young Peregrine Falcons.

It's the first chicks hatched at the cathedrel since 2010. All four chicks look to be doing well & hopefully all will fledge successfully.

Butterflies & birding on Cleeve Common

Dukes of Burgundy

Marsh Fritillary

Small Blue

Male Common Redstart

Cleeve Common is a beautiful place to spend each spring and once again it did not disappoint on this visit. With stunning views over Cheltenham racecourse the chalk hillside provides the perfect habitat for many species. I recorded fifteen species of butterfly including Duke of Burgundy, Marsh Fritillary, huge numbers of Small Blue. The only one I couldn't find was Adonis Blue which had only been reported for the first time the previous day. Bird wise I recorded a number of Redstart, Tree Pipt & Red Kite.

Monday, 16 May 2022

Salford Priors GP Sightings (1st to 15th May 2022)

Ringed Plover

Orange-tip

The Squire

Little Egret (M Clarke)

Common Swifts

Common Blue

Grey Partridge (D Hill)

Turnstone (F Peplow)

Mediterrean Gull (F Peplow)

Whilst I was away in Scilly enjoying the spring sunshine the team added six valuable year ticks. Ringed Plover (with a Dunlin) (3/5) FP, Mediterrean Gull (6/5) FP, Osprey (6/5) CL, Little Egret (9/5) MC, Whimbrel (9/5) FP & Turnstone (11/5) FP. This takes us to a very pleasing 112 for the year.

I recorded our first three figure count of Swifts on 13/5. Butterfly count is now 11 with Small Heath the latest to emerge after Common Blue.

On Sunday, Chris the county recorder and the Squire joined us for the mid month count. The following count were recorded:-

7 pairs Little Grebe, 2 Cormorant, 1 Little Egret, 2 Grey Heron, 8 Mute Swan 8 Greylag, 36 Canada Geese, 1 gadwall, 147 Mallard, 85 Tufted Duck, Red Kite, Sparrowhawk, 4 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel, 1 Grey Partridge, 10 prs Moorhen, 62 Coot, 2 Oystercatcher, 4 LRP, 1 Ringed Plover, 2 Lapwing, 4 BH Gull, 13 LBB Gull, 1 Cuckoo, 30 Swift, 3 House Martin, 3 Cettis and all the regular warblers on territory, Treecreeper and 14 Reed Bunting territories.

Tuesday, 3 May 2022

Worcestershire Nightingales

There was some light fog on Bank Holiday Monday, so it was a later start than usual for us. After a bit of debate we headed towards Bredon Hill again to see if the Nightingales had returned. We did a large circuit initially before turning to the breeding area. There is signage in place to remind visitors to stay STRICTLY on the path. Within twenty yards a Nightingale flew across in front of us showing its magficiant tail only to disappear in the undergrowth.

It was probably another twenty five minutes until I heard another bird and some edgy movement. I decided to hold fire and wait in this area as it's where I'd had sightings in previous years. After another ten minutes two males got into really good song almost competing against each other and on occasions landed on perches in the open when I managed to get a few pleasing shots. During the session I recorded at least five singing males.

For lunch we retreated to our favourite pub, the Queen Elizabeth, in Elmley Castle. As well as the normal yummy lunch we got treated to a few dances from local Morris dancers. Nice way to spend a bank holiday for sure.