May Bank Holiday Weekend

Reed Warbler (c) Bark

The sunshine and warmth of the last several days was in total contrast with the dour, cold greyness of the previous weekend. Everything seemed to respond rapidly to the conditions as if rushing to make up for lost time. The vegetation is at its lushest, its most verdant and comes in the widest and most vivid shades of green imaginable. In the hedgerows and ditches small birds are hammering out their songs in order to attract a mate or to intimidate a rival.

Turtle Dove (c) Tom N-L

One of the most significant and welcome events of the last few days has been the return of the Turtle Doves. Given the difficulties they encounter on their wintering grounds and the trials and hazards of their migration, it is always a huge relief when they get back safely. The first returner called from all of the regular song posts of last year and then came down to feed on fine seeds scattered by the cattle pens. This familiarity suggests that this was indeed “our” bird arriving back. For me it is very special to have it back as its’ call along with that of the cuckoo epitomises summer days.

Calling Cuckoo (c)Tom N-L

A Great White Egret has also been spending some time on and around the moor and may have been around for some time, but not on those parts of the moor that we can see. It is certainly a non-breeding bird as its bill is yellow and its legs are dark. However, this might well be a species that could start to breed here sometime in the not too distant future.

Common Buzzard (c) Bark and Barn Owl (c) Tom N-L

Bitterns are being seen and heard still but we are yet to record any female feeding flights as we have done in the last couple of years. Cuckoos too have been very active, both calling and making frequent forays along the bridleway and across Greenaways.

Tatty Hobby (c) Tom N-L

I recorded my first Swifts over the reedbed on Thursday last week, but they are yet to put in an appearance in larger numbers. We failed to see any on Saturday and Sunday. In contrast the Hobbies have returned in significant numbers. As has always been the case there is a week or so at the beginning of May when we have a major influx of these beautiful agile falcons. They use the moor as a fuelling station and on Friday there were over twenty of them feeding over Greenaways in the late afternoon. Numbers at the weekend were more modest but there were always four or five to be found. They feed on the dangly legged St Marks flies, so called because they first appear around St Marks day on the 25^th April. Later on they will feed mainly on dragonflies that are just starting to emerge.

Common Tern courtship (c) Tom N-L

The Tern Raft was put out on the northern lagoon late last week and the very next day had seven Common Terns sitting on it. It is critical to put the raft out after the Black Headed Gulls have started to nest or it would be taken over by them. Last year we had nine pairs on it and it looks as though it will be equally popular this season. Already the terns are carrying out their noisy courtship display and pairs can be seen sharing small fish.

Fox and pursuing Curlew (c) Bark

We watched a fox making its way across Greenaways on Sunday morning and it was interesting to see that it attracted the attention of a Curlew, which pursued it scolding and alarm-calling right the way over the field. Other birds including corvids and Lapwings also joined in the chorus of disapproval and the avian equivalent of abuse. The hot weather may cause the water on Big Otmoor to evaporate more quickly and we might well have some mud out in the centre of the field soon to attract some late passage waders.

Tree Creeper in the carpark field (c) JR

All of our breeding species are here now and are starting to go about their courtship and nesting. It will be fascinating to see how they all fare and to report on the winners and the losers over the next couple of months.

Common Lizard and Orange Tip (c) Bark