Thursday 30 April 2020

Thursday 30/04/2020

I woke up to the rain battering on the window at just after 05.00, after 10 minutes I made myself get up. By the time I'd had my coffee the rain had stopped but the wind was blowing, so I braved the weather and walked down to Dengemarsh. On the way the resident Yellow Wagtails and Wheatears were seen, the camera was kept i the bag though as the rain had started again. The first of several Cuckoos was at Hookers, also Sedge, Reed and Cetti's Warblers, Common and Lesser Whitethroats, Reed Buntings and a Chiffchaff were all seen but all were very subdued in the strong wind, the Bittern was very half hearted in its booming. Common Terns were shrieking high overhead, Gadwall, Shoveler, Teal, Pochard and Mallard all seemed to be flying around between the lakes. Lapwings, Redshanks and Oystercatchers were chasing anything that had the temerity to go near their nest sites, even Whimbrel and Bar-tailed Godwits weren't immune to there attacks. Mostly today was a hard slog and I found nothing new. Tomorrows another day and just maybe.....
 Cuckoo fly past








 Gadwall
 Lapwing

 Shoveler
 Whimbrel
Whimbrel, Bar-tailed Godwit & Oystercatcher

Wednesday 29 April 2020

Wednesday 29/04/2020

No great change today with all the resident birds singing and displaying, the Bitterns in particular were very vocal this morning, Hirundine numbers are picking up and Common Terns are definitely increasing.
 As is usual this pair of Yellow Wagtails greet me more or less as soon as I leave home each morning

 The resident Wheatear looking bedraggled yesterday morning
The same bird this morning
Surprise of the day was this Fieldfare early morning at Dengemarsh (heavily cropped image)
 There are still at least 3 Garganey around, but they are becoming very illusive

Good numbers of Redshank seem to be attempting to breed around Dengemarsh
Very small numbers of Bar-tailed Godwits and Whimbrel around today
 At least 6 Cuckoos were around Dengemarsh today

 Displaying Sedge warbler
 Displaying Sedge warbler

 Late morning at least 30 Swifts appeared over Dengemarsh



Monday 27 April 2020

Monday 27/04/2020

My usual early morning Yellow Wagtail
 Lots of Bar-tailed Godwits and Whimbrel have been dropping into the Boulderwall Fields
This Red Fox is a regular between Cooks and Tanners
 Common Whitethroats seem to be be in every patch of Bramble



A brief booming Bittern (please turn your volume up)
Good numbers of Lesser Whitethroats are also in, though not usually as showy as this one
 Reed Warblers are chuntering in all the Reed beds and ditches of Dengemarsh

 The Sedge Warblers are still very vocal

 Reed Buntings are numerous
 A beautiful Chaffinch
 Little Grebe, more often heard than seen at the moment
Noisy Oystercatchers chasing each other all over the reserve
 Several Hobbys around today


 Probably a resident pair of Wheatears