A sunny day at last, so spent most of it in the garden. The Starlings left their nest in the loft for the first time (a good job as the Swifts are now trying to get in). They fed mainly around the cherry tree all day and the four youngsters and two adults demolished my feeders and fat balls.
The Great Tits are actively feeding chicks in the apple tree, returning every minute or so with a insects. A male Blackbird is using a song post is right next to the nest. The chicks fledged a few days ago (we found the nest last week in next door’s shed with the female sitting.)
And then the twitch! Early evening Mathew Mellor gave me a call to say that he possibly had some Dotterel along Fowlmere Road, though never having seen Dotterel before wasn’t entirely sure as they were very distant. Of course, they were. Six birds in the far field (three females and three males). Quite a find. After a brief look I returned to get Tom. Three Wheatears, a Yellow Wagtail, and three pairs of Grey Partridges were also present, as well as six Hares. An hour or so later I went for an evening stroll with Michelle and Sam, and joined a growing but disappointed crowd as, although nobody saw them go, they had almost certainly flown.
Fowlmere Road12 May 2012 17:30 - 18:30
Sunny 17C 14S
Red-legged Partridge, Grey Partridge, Buzzard, Dotterel, Woodpigeon, Whitethroat, Wheatear, Dunnock, Yellow Wagtail, Corn Bunting, Brown Hare
