Having covered the east and north of the parish yesterday, recording 40 species of birds, I set off this morning to search the westerly area. In the process I added; canada goose ( 2 over), coal tit, lapwing (1 over), teal (4th parish record) kestrel, linnet, little owl, song thrush and mandarin to take the total to an impressive 49 species. Also on offer, another resident barn owl checked and found to be present. This old boy has lived in his tree hole for over 6 years and lost his mate in 2011 when she was killed by a car early one morning. His offspring still inhabit the next parish to the west. He is now getting a little grey and tired, spending much time watching the world go by from his favoured tree.
The mandarin are free flying birds that crop up all over the parish, but favour a flooded gravel pit where there is plenty of fallen willows for them to roost and nest. Here, too was the pair of teal, a new bird for this site. Nuthatches were at nest holes whilst coal tits were in the local firs. Still no goldcrests to see.
A walk over the golf course failed to provide a hoped for wheatear, a regular haunt for them on spring migration. Maybe tomorrow? A dawn chorus walk over this patch on Sunday morning may provide a sighting.
Butterflies were even more evident than yesterday: 20+ small tortoiseshells, 6 peacocks and 2 brimstone males.
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| Aging barn owl at his tree. Been present for 6+ years here. |
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| 2 flyover canada geese. Not a regular village sight |
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| white dead nettle (lamium alba) |
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| red version of cowslip. (garden escape?) |
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| one of over 20 small tortoiseshells seen this morning |
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| mandarin drake at Westland Green |
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