Date:  14th May 2016. 0700 hrs to 1000 hrs

by Amanda, Anne and Terry

 A cool but pleasantly sunny morning.  Temperature 6° – 11°C

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Survey List

Robin 11

Blue Tit 8

Dunnock 6

Woodpigeon 25

Wren 12

Blackbird 18

Magpie 14

Greenfinch 13

Reed Bunting 10

Bullfinch 1

Chaffinch 12

Long-tailed Tit 13

Great Tit 1

Goldfinch 6

Moorhen 4

House Sparrow 7

Carrion Crow 5

Coot 1

Song Thrush 3

Collared Dove 2

Mute Swan 7

Chiffchaff 4

Blackcap 4

Gadwall 1

Reed Warbler 6

Great Spotted Woodpecker 1

Grey Heron 1

Greylag Goose 3

Grasshopper Warbler 1 (heard but not seen)

Swift 16

Whitethroat 13

Linnet 1

Swallow 1

Starling 2

Willow Tit 1

 

 35 species in all

 

The Early Worm!

 Another very enjoyable days birding on a cool, dry, windless morning resulted in a record number of birds being encountered; possibly due to the earlier start time and the arrival of further summer migrants. Swift, Grasshopper Warbler, Whitethroat and Reed Warbler all put in an appearance.

 However, again no Willow Warblers were seen or heard on the Meadows, though they were singing tantalisingly close by, on Number 4 bed of the Eyes.

 The welcome sight of a couple of starlings and a linnet were both first records for the year, a measure perhaps of how the numbers of these once very common birds has plummeted;  but the highlight of the day was undoubtedly the sighting of a Willow Tit in a newly discovered territory, which now means there are at least two sites occupied by these threatened little birds within the New Cut Canal/Paddington Meadows survey area.

 

 Mammals

 5 Grey Squirrel seen during this month’s survey, although there are plenty more about.

 

Butterflies

 Absent during the survey, perhaps because of the cool temperature.

 

 News flash!

 The pair of Grey Partridge, last seen in March, have been seen twice since Saturday morning’s monthly survey. Lets hope they have been successful in raising some chicks.