22nd April..... Nesting Material.

While out with Don on Sunday I picked up a handful of sheep wool to bring home for birds to use as nesting material and it didn't take long before a blue tit found it. 

On Sunday birds were constantly in the pond including this dunnock.

A short hot walk Monday; came across a pair of blackcaps busy feeding close by, but the walk  again was noted for butterflies including several holly blue.

Small white.

In the garden honey bees and a queen wasp were also busy around and hopefully pollinating the whitecurrant bush.

Stewart.

Images Copyright : Stewart Dennis.

We seemed to have been constantly opening the windows to release Honey Bees that were trying to find they're way through the glass, during the course of the weekend.

Don.

21st April..... Mallards.

The Mallards are still visiting our ponds on a daily basis; it's amazing how they have become use to our presence since their first appearance over two months ago; when they would take flight no sooner had we stepped out from the house; now they tolerate us; spending hours loafing on & by the water; even the dog now takes them for granted.

Bullfinches are brightening up the day.

Don.

21st April..... Pitstone Hill & College Lake.

We spent about an hour on the Hill; arriving at 7-20am, first bird seen being a Corn Bunting 'jangling' from the top of  bush (2 more seen later). The songs of Skylarks filled the air, with possibly 20 birds, either singing from on high or chasing each other at ground level. Yellowhammers sang from Hawthorn bushes where they're colouring, gave them excellent camouflage in the morning sun.

A hand full of Meadow Pipits perched on the top of the few remaining low bushes, quite why the National Trust have massacred the scrub I don't understand, they could have taken out a few of the bushes at a time. Stewart spotted a male Stonechat low down on the fence line, flew to the ground, where it performed a kind of wing quivering display, in the manner of a Dunnock. Flew further along the fence where it was joined by a female, the pair accompanying each other as they ranged over the hillside perching on top of the few remaining stems of vegetation. A pair of Long-tailed Tits continually returned to a particular Bramble bush. Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff & Blackcap were all in song.
View of College Lake from the Octagon Hide.

3 Reed Warblers sang from the reed fringed ditch, along the path to the Octagon Hide.

As did 3 Willow Warblers.
From the hide this single Little Ringed Plover could be seen at close quarters as it made it's way up the grass bank.

At the waters edge a Redshank  revealed the ring on it's right leg, as it engaged in a bit of scratching.

A pair of Canada Geese were protective of their recently hatch young.
Don.

Images Copyright : Don Stone/Stewart Dennis.

20th April..... Butterflies.

An unseasonably hot walk  Saturday morning didn't produce many birds but plenty of butterflies. Good numbers of brimstones and orange tip butterflies. The orange tips were constantly on the move, but the brimstones ( the females a lot paler than the males )  and the single comma, holly blue and tortoiseshell did settle long enough for me to take a photo. Stewart. 

Images Copyright : Stewart Dennis.

 

 

18th April..... Yellow Wagtail.

Wondering what to do Thursday afternoon had a text from Don of an alpine swift seen at Ivinghoe Beacon and more ring ouzels there, so decided to give it another visit. Could see a long way but no sign of alpine swift and again couldn't find any ring ouzels after a good search but did come across another fine looking meadow pipit.

Called into College Lake on way home and into the octagon hide where others were looking to see what's about. Soon after they had left I spotted a yellow wagtail had flown in and was bathing a short distance away and then it flew towards us.

Landed in front of the hide and with a pied wagtail started feeding and walking towards the hide.A perfect view of this breeding summer visitor which winters in Africa.Stewart.                                  Images Copyright : Stewart Dennis.

17th April..... Part Two, College Lake.

After lunch in the Badger Café at College Lake walked off to the Octagon Hide passing the ditch and reed bed on the right and hearing more willow warblers singing in the willows.

Nearer the hide a birder was watching a reed warbler low down in the reeds but we didn't manage to see it but did hear it's song showing  it had moved away.

Were told a whimbrel was showing well from the hide (another long distant traveller passing through) and was clearly seen.

A redshank showed really well as it walked toward the hide.

Moved on and came across this presumably natural hybrid between a cowslip and primrose growing amongst some cowslips.

Blackcaps also singing well and found this female on the west side.

Back to café for cup of tea but unfortunately closed (being after 4.00) so had an ice cream instead.

Quickly walked to the Octagon Hide again in case the reed warbler was showing but no, not disappointed though had good views of a female reed bunting this time in amongst (guess where....the reeds). A great day out. Stewart.

Images Copyright : Stewart Dennis.

17th April..... Part One, Ivinghoe Hills.

With the weather now warming up, decided to try Ivinghoe Beacon to look for ring ouzels, wheatears and other spring migrants or maybe the short-eared owl that has been seen around the area recently. Parked in the car park at Pitstone Hill, walked to the beacon on to Gallows Hill  and back to the car. No short-eared owl or ring ouzels but did find three wheatears along with a singing male corn bunting on the fence line near the sheep pens at Gallows Hill.

• Small numbers of meadow pipits possibly passing through heading north.
  
  Good  numbers of singing skylarks, (at times drowning out the song of other birds), were present with birds nesting on the ground and moving on as I walk by.
  
  Willow warblers, chiffchaffs and blackcaps all singing well.
  
  Good to see the Pasqueflower hanging on & well protected.
  
  BBOWT College Lake for lunch. Stewart.
• Images Copyright : Stewart Dennis.

16th April..... Red Kite.

A short wander through the wood this morning,

noticed the kites are now sitting tightly,

just a tail showing over the nest while it's mate was

perched close by.

That's the good news, bad news HS2 diggers are getting closer.

In the garden the first fledgling seen... a robin.

Stewart.

Images Copyright : Stewart Dennis.

14th April..... Rooks.

I wandered down the track to Payne's Hill early on a cold & frosty morning, the Rooks were nosily busying themselves in the Rookery, which has residents in 18 nests at the moment.

Once I'd finished watching them I turned to find a beautiful Fox sat about 50 foot further along the track watching me, it didn't hang about & scarpered off through the gate.

A pair of Buzzards circled over the wood, as a Great Spotted Woodpecker drummed out it's territory from within.

By now the early frost was retreating to the shadows as the suns rays warmed up... ever so slightly.

After a pre-breakfast chat with Carol, I returned home to find the Dunnocks & Chaffinches quietly

going about their business a ever. The Blue Tits are engaged in coutship feeding, which I've seen them do evey day this past week. The male Blackcap seems to be holding a territory, as he sings from various song posts in bushes around the garden.

 

A few of Stewart's sighings from last week :

9th : Firecrest singing in holly in local wood.
12th : First local Swallow on wires at Ballinger.
13th : Lone Fieldfare on Ballinger playing fields.
Don.