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

Ringed Plover

Orange-tip
The Squire
Little Egret (M Clarke)
Common Swifts
Common Blue
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.


Sunday 1 May 2022

Early butterflies of 2022












It's been a cold spring for butterflies however it's good to see species emerge in recent weeks. Below are my records to date. 

1)Brimstone                 18-Mar      SPGP
2)Peacock                 23-Mar Feckenham
3)Holly Blue                 23-Mar Feckenham
4)Small Tortoiseshell         26-Mar Feckenham
5)Coma                         26-Mar Grafton Wood
6)Orange-tip                 09-Apr Feckenham
7)Red Admiral                 09-Apr Brent Hill
8)Speckled Wood         09-Apr Brent Hill
9)Small White                 14-Apr SPGP
10)Green-veined White      15-Apr Ripple Pits
11)Large White                 25-Apr Wyre Forest
12)Pearl-bordered Fritillary 25-Apr Wyre Forest
13)Green Hairstreak         25-Apr Hartlebury