Date: 11th March 2022
Time: from
8:15 a.m.
Weather: dry,
cloudy/hazy sunshine, moderate wind, 8°C to 10°C
I
had a very quick walk around the site this morning without my camera since I
needed to be back home for a delivery.
Nonetheless,
in less than 45 minutes, I had some very notable sightings.
With
regard to birds, I added a further 2 species to my 2022 list for the site bringing the
total to date to 31: Common Buzzard and Chaffinch.
As I accessed the site
from Larkins Tyres, I heard the constant “mewing” of a Common Buzzard.
I was unable to locate the bird through the gaps in the tree cover but at the
end of the track I saw a Common Buzzard fly through in the direction of
the field surrounded by trees, hedges and scrub where I have been very
successful with Red Foxes recently.
I walked through to
the fence overlooking this area and immediately saw a Common Buzzard
perched in the large oak tree with the other bird that I had first seen flying
away from me.
My Common Buzzard
count recently has been amazing. In a period of
less than 2 weeks since 26th February 2022, I have now seen 12 Common Buzzards in my immediate local area (6 at Gloucester Park, 4 from my flat and 2 this morning) although
some of these records may well be of the same birds.
Chaffinch is a species that I
only see or hear very occasionally around the site. I heard a calling male this
morning from somewhere in the western section of the cemetery but I failed to
see it.
I had several other
notable sightings.
In addition to the generally scare Chaffinch, I saw the equally scare Greenfinch, a male engaged in its singing butterfly display flight over the trees along the access track from Larkins Tyres.
I also heard and then saw a singing Goldcrest in the more regular location in the large conifer tree in the south west corner of the site and I heard a calling Green Woodpecker in the wooded area at the end of the access track from Larkins Tyres and a “drumming” Great Spotted Woodpecker in the woodland in the south of the site on my way home
Finally, I saw a single
fly-over Black-headed Gull, a species I see far less frequently than the
regular Herring Gulls and occasional Lesser Black-backed Gull.
Despite reports now
being received of singing Chiffchaffs around Essex, I have yet to hear
or see my first spring arrival of this species or indeed my first Blackcap.
With regard to mammals,
I saw a single Grey Squirrels along the access track from Larkins
Tyres.
Species
recorded during this visit were as follows (heard only records in italics):
💚🦆 🦉🦋🐝🦊🦡🌼 🌳💚
Stay safe, stay well, stay strong, stay connected with nature
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