Wow that was close. The weather forecast was for rain by lunchtime and it was spot on. Ted and I had just reached the top of Broadcroft Quarry Lane, when the first spots of rain began to fall. We managed to walk the rest of the route without getting too wet, and got home as it began to fall very heavily.
The main highlight was when 4 Brambling flew over the Railway Cutting, landed briefly on a hedge, before heading off south. Other highlights were an increase number of Chiffchaffs with 12 recorded along the walk. Also about were 4 Blackcaps, at least 8 Siskins with 2 in amongst a flock of 20 Linnet.
Birds Recorded:
4 Kestrel
Herring Gull
Wood Pigeon
Collared Dove
Skylark
Meadow Pipit
Pied Wagtail
Dunnock
Robin
Blackbird
2 Song Thrush
4 Blackcap
12 Chiffchaff
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Starling
House Sparrow
4 Brambling
Chaffinch
30+ Linnet
8 Siskin
Goldfinch
2 Greenfinch
This female Kestrel was in Bumpers Lane Quarry and a......
....................few seconds later she was off to join her mate.
Just about everywhere on my walk there were Robins singing
And here are a few..............
...........photos of Chiffchaff I came across. And there were quite a few today with at least 12 recorded.
None recorded
Bees Recorded:
1 Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)
Wasps Recorded:
1 Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris)
Hoverflies Recorded:
Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus)
hoverfly sp.
Just two hoverflies seen today, this Marmalade Hoverfly and........
...........this hoverfly sp. I didn't see a single Common Dronefly.
Yet another plant from the Brassica family.
And a close-up of the flowerhead. I'm still non the wiser as to which species!!
Ted:
Good old Ted is back to his usual self again