With reports of a couple of Peacock butterflies and even the odd bee, it looks like spring is finally moving out of first gear and putting its foot down. On the flora front, snowdrops are abound and down near the boardwalk at Inner Marsh Farm this afternoon it looked like the Marsh Marigold may be finally getting its act together too.
A brace of Avocets was the highlight of an otherwise quiet afternoon at the reserve. There were rumours of a Bittern on the border pool, but by the time the gen had found its way to the opposite end of the hide it was nowhere to be seen.
Only time will tell if the elegant waders are going to stick around – the birds could easily just be using the pools as a staging post before the final push to somewhere in Lancashire.
It will be interesting to see how many pairs – if any – try and breed this year. After the first clutch mysteriously disappeared early on in spring and with a resourceful badger bagging all the eggs from subsequent nests, you could hardly excuse them from steering well clear.
Birds are nothing if persistent though – witness the luckless Oysties that seem to fail time after time – and fingers crossed, late spring may herald the arrival of some hopelessly cute Avocet chicks.
Another novelty on the reserve today was some heat haze that made identifying some of the waders on number two pool a tad tricky. Seven Ruff were probably the pick, although a squadron of a score or so Golden Plover flying over was a welcome sight – especially when they had the good manners to set down in the wet meadow and so become the latest addition to my Flintshire list!
After chewing the fat for a while with Huw and Stan, I concentrated not on birding, but thanks to Keith (Welsh Keith, not Red Keith of the Ducker's vintage)– my Welsh diction. With an imminent move across the border, it’s about time I made at least some effort to disguise my Englishness, although I fear my efforts will be in vain. I just can’t seem to roll those RRRRs!
Inner Marsh Farm 11.03.10
2 Avocet
7 Ruff
5 Blackwit
5+ Little Egret
Until later.
A brace of Avocets was the highlight of an otherwise quiet afternoon at the reserve. There were rumours of a Bittern on the border pool, but by the time the gen had found its way to the opposite end of the hide it was nowhere to be seen.
Only time will tell if the elegant waders are going to stick around – the birds could easily just be using the pools as a staging post before the final push to somewhere in Lancashire.
It will be interesting to see how many pairs – if any – try and breed this year. After the first clutch mysteriously disappeared early on in spring and with a resourceful badger bagging all the eggs from subsequent nests, you could hardly excuse them from steering well clear.
Birds are nothing if persistent though – witness the luckless Oysties that seem to fail time after time – and fingers crossed, late spring may herald the arrival of some hopelessly cute Avocet chicks.
Another novelty on the reserve today was some heat haze that made identifying some of the waders on number two pool a tad tricky. Seven Ruff were probably the pick, although a squadron of a score or so Golden Plover flying over was a welcome sight – especially when they had the good manners to set down in the wet meadow and so become the latest addition to my Flintshire list!
After chewing the fat for a while with Huw and Stan, I concentrated not on birding, but thanks to Keith (Welsh Keith, not Red Keith of the Ducker's vintage)– my Welsh diction. With an imminent move across the border, it’s about time I made at least some effort to disguise my Englishness, although I fear my efforts will be in vain. I just can’t seem to roll those RRRRs!
Inner Marsh Farm 11.03.10
2 Avocet
7 Ruff
5 Blackwit
5+ Little Egret
Until later.
Hi Paul,
ReplyDeleteI did not realise I was a wine!!! or is your reference to the brilliant football team I support?
Best Regards,
Keith