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| first cut of the year |
I was back at the Reserve today, not to bird watch but to take a closer look at the bridge and paths ahead of next week's work party. Inevitably though I did see some bird life. I planned to record it, but not necessarily Blog it unless something special came along. Of course, something special did, so here's the report.
Birds:
SC208694 Water Rail. This must have been sitting very close to the boardwalk because as I approached I put it up. It flew the short distance into the adjoining reed bed almost in slow motion, legs trailing. 2 x Long Tailed Tit; 3 x Blue Tit together; Robin; 2 x Great Tit.
SC209694 ( Hide) The Coot was in vegetation between pond and the boundary ditch. It walked past a couple of Mallard drakes sitting on the bank. The Mallards seemed nervous of it but didn't fly away. Later it walked back past them and again they edged away from it. Eventually it made its way down into the water among the iris where it sat pretty motionless. Grey Heron flew in but landed somewhere in vegetation behind the pond where it couldn't be seen. Robin; Hooded Crow; female Blackbird; Long Tailed Tit;
SC209694 ( Path junction) 2 x Long Tailed Tit ; 2 x Great Tit; female Reed Bunting;
SC 208694 (willows/ compost area) Great Tit; flock of 6 Goldfinch; Robin; 2 x Blue Tit;
SC210694 ( near gate) male Chaffinch; Robin sitting on noticeboard;female Blackbird.
There were a few honey bees about again but generally not much other insect life ( although I wasn't specifically looking for these on this occasion). My thanks to Steve Crellin, the Island's dipterist, for spotting and identifying the photo of the fly posted on March 19th. He tells me it is a female dung fly, Scathophaga stercoraria.
What was immediately apparent as I came through the gate was that the grass had been mown. A big thank you to Stan Clucas, the freeholder of the Reserve, for agreeing to temporarily take on the mowing again until such time as a new volunteer can be found.
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| welcoming Robin |
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| spot the odd one out? |
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| close up of one of the Goldfinches |
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| two headed Mallard? |
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| Coot -in -Residence |
