16 Apr 19

Reap Lane

Its not often I time it right as regards the rain, but there was a break in the weather this morning and an opportunity to check out Reap Lane and later Southwell Barns

There was report earlier this morning of a Common Redstart in one of the fields close to the Barn. But unsurprisingly by the time I got there it was long gone, though I did see the reported male Stonechat. Only other highlight here was a fly-by Swallow and a Peregrine which went into a stoop and disappeared below the cliffs at speed.

A very distant shot of the male Stonechat just south of Reap Lane

Birds recorded:
1 Peregrine Falcon, Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, 1 Swallow, 1 Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, 1 Stonechat, Blackbird, 1 Song Thrush, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Starling, House Sparrow and Linnet.

Southwell Barns

Having left Reap Lane I headed off to the barns and fields at Southwell, where I had a bit more luck, though I did have to wait a good 15 minutes or so before anything showed up.

At first there were a couple of Willow Warblers and 2 female Blackcaps, and then several Blackcaps passed by me, along with 4 Chiffchaffs and another Willow Warbler. The Blackcaps comprised of 3 males and 6 females.

In one of the bushes where a male Blackcap was feeding a pair of Great Tits were getting really agitated and very vocal. In fact this happened at two different locations, and by a different pair of Great Tits.

Overhead 4 Swallows circled around the horse paddocks for a few minutes before heading off north.

Here are a few images from a very murky day:

The horse paddocks at Southwell.

And the Barns.

A distant shot of a pair of Blackcaps and.......

......in another hedge a female Blackcap.

Birds Recorded
: Pheasant, Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, Skylark, 4 Swallow, Meadow Pipit, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 9 Blackcap, 4 Chiffchaff, 3 Willow Warbler, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Linnet and Goldfinch.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On this day..........
2018
Today's Sightings Here.