Early morning at Croxall GP, signs of migration were at
last underway with stuff beginning to appear despite the almost
constant northerlies we’ve been having. A single Common Tern and a female
Wheatear were notable arrivals and there was a very visable passage of hirundines, with large numbers of Sand Martin pushing through north, joined by
smaller numbers of Swallow.
Wader ‘action’ however, was fairly predictable with 6 Oystercatcher, 4 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Ringed Plover, 1 Snipe, a Curlew feeding in the field and a couple of Redshank.
A Short-eared Owl livened the morning up as it emerged up from the small pits by the river. 2 Little Egret here too.
Wader ‘action’ however, was fairly predictable with 6 Oystercatcher, 4 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Ringed Plover, 1 Snipe, a Curlew feeding in the field and a couple of Redshank.
A Short-eared Owl livened the morning up as it emerged up from the small pits by the river. 2 Little Egret here too.
The next part of the day I cannot talk about, for it involves trespass, scarcities
and suppression....
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| H&S warning - in a stark 1970's stylee |
These days of course, you don't have to worry about children falling into quarries or gravel pits or electocuting themselves on pylons as they're all too busy sat at home stuffing their arteries with saturated fats and numbing their brains with playstation games.
Most notably, the sightings from that part of the day included a Ruff (presumaby male) and 2 more Wheatear.
On to the more legitimate site of Blithfield (provided you have a permit of course).
There was a stonking adult male Redstart feeding along
hedgerows below the dam. Also a total of 4 Wheatear - 3 in fields below the dam and a further bird at the Beechtree Point.
Ten Acre Bay contained some less hard-hitting safety advice than that observed earlier...
Ten Acre Bay contained some less hard-hitting safety advice than that observed earlier...
A warning that was duly ignored by 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Little
Ringed Plover and a year tick of Common Sandpiper. Paused for some photos here.
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| Oystercatcher |
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| Little Ringed Plover |
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| Little Ringed Plover |
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| Little Ringed Plover |
Big news in the region on this day of course, was the Pallid Harrier that flew through Belvide observed by Steve Nuttal and a few others.
Regarding your health and safety notice at the quarry. I think you'll find its a 1960's sign as the picture clearly shows a young Paul McCartney, pre Beatles days
ReplyDeleteCome to think of it, you could be right there Nick. Hasn't changed a bit has he?
ReplyDelete