Date: 12th April 2023
Time: from 7 a.m.
Weather: dry, sunny, light wind, 6°C to 8°C
I had an excellent visit this morning: a year high of 24 bird species recorded, including 2 new site records (Willow Warbler and Firecrest), and 3 mammal species recorded.
I accessed the site as usual via the track from Larkins Tyres. From the wooded clearing at the end of the track, I took the short walk through the trees to the fence, my regular watchpoint overlooking the field, scrub, hedges and trees in the north of the site. I spent some time here and walking around the northern section of the site. I did not visit the remainder of the site.
So, immediately to the 2 new site records (taking the total to 62 species) which were also additions to my 2023 UK list (taking the total to 126 species).
From my watchpoint, I briefly heard what I thought was a singing male Willow Warbler. This was confirmed when I started to walk around the northern section of the site. However, the bird only sang sporadically and despite hearing it many times during my visit, I frustratingly failed to locate it. It therefore remains a “heard only” record.
Whilst trying to locate the Willow Warbler,
I walked down the path that eventually leads to the A127 road, something I very
rarely do. Along here I heard a singing male Goldcrest and eventually saw
it. A few minutes later, I briefly saw another small passerine which eventually
revealed itself to be a stunning Firecrest with a “fire crest”, white eye
stripe and a generally brighter overall appearance to a Goldcrest. This
was my first UK record of this species since 2017.
Willow Warbler is not a totally unexpected spring migrant for the site, if only a visitor passing through, but Firecrest was a complete surprise.
This was the fifth consecutive visit where I have recorded Common Buzzard in the northern section of the site, this time a bird seen twice in flight.
Photo: Common Buzzard
Photo: Common Buzzard
However, during this visit, I also recorded another raptor when I spotted a very distant soaring Sparrowhawk.
Yet again
in the northern section of the site, Greenfinches were very evident
and I saw 2 individual males plus what appeared to be a pair. Having got my
first photo ever of this species at the site during my last visit, I was
successful again.
Photo: male Greenfinch
Photo: male Greenfinch
Photo: male Greenfinch
Both Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps were also very evident as I walked around the northern section of the site. I saw 3 singing male Chiffchaffs, heard at least 6 other singing males and saw 3 other non-singing/calling birds. I saw 2 singing male Blackcaps, heard at least 2 other singing males and saw a non-singing male and a female.
This visit was the first occasion for many months
where I have recorded all 3 of the usual mammals: Red Fox, Reeves’ Muntjac
and Grey Squirrel.
I saw 2 Red Foxes in the northern section of the site with one animal approaching me very closely, apparently oblivious to my presence.
Photo: Red Fox
I saw a single Reeves’ Muntjac in the wooded clearing at the end
of the track from Larkins Tyres plus 2 Grey Squirrels in the northern
section of the site and another again in the wooded clearing.
Species recorded during this visit were as follows
(heard only records in italics):
Site totals for 2023 to date (2022 totals in
brackets):
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