Early today it was fine and sunny after over 20mm rain over the past 2 days. The grass covered with a carpet of Common Dandelion and ground ivy. Loudly singing chaffinches, still very visible in the trees, singing robins and wrens in the company of quiet blackbirds which prefer their songs to be heard in the still of the morning and the evening. The weather was now perfect for gliding and sure enough a fine buzzard appeared directly above the river, head down, watching, with no effort at all. Soon a kestrel joined it in the sky and the buzzard glided off out of sight. The kestrel gave an excellent display of hovering, facing into the wind, body completely static and wings beating, studying the spot of ground
immediately beneath it, the base of a Blackthorn hedge. After what seemed like ages, it glided off and flew into an old oak where it perched for a short while, then off again to hover almost over the same spot. Suddenly it disappeared in a dive down behind the hedgerow, a pause then it was back up in the sky, hovering again.
Low down on the river banks, the first blackcap could be seen, silent but busy foraging along the steep banks amongst the brambles, then up into a spindle tree and a mad dash after another male blackcap that had dared to approach. The males are somehow more easily seen, even when not singing but the reason for the chasing - a female blackcap, now appeared from the blossom nearby, also foraging for insects.
Whilst they were busy, a very quiet song started up in another blossoming Blackthorn tree close by - this was another blackcap, singing a beautiful, endless sub-song with short pauses, hidden deep in the thicket.
That was four, as far as I could tell, one pair and two males.
Further along the river, an interesting sight of another smart male blackcap, this time foraging for insects in an old conifer whilst a female blackcap was foraging in another old conifer next to it. Just a short walk to some willows where I found two more male blackcaps, this time singing and 'ticc ticc' ing, probably just communicating a warning to others. That's 8 blackcaps today.
That was four, as far as I could tell, one pair and two males.
Further along the river, an interesting sight of another smart male blackcap, this time foraging for insects in an old conifer whilst a female blackcap was foraging in another old conifer next to it. Just a short walk to some willows where I found two more male blackcaps, this time singing and 'ticc ticc' ing, probably just communicating a warning to others. That's 8 blackcaps today.
Blackthorn thicket
Perfect habitat for Blackcaps, foraging, nesting, singing, sub-singing, sheltering, cooling, preening - that's the reason for them flying all the way here in the spring after wintering in warmer southern lands.
Chiffchaffs were also busy calling and foraging, now a common sight and sound again. The sun shone warmly on the dandelions and a splendid Peacock butterfly flew across and perched on one, wings open to soak up the sun, its brilliant colours clashing somewhat with the bright yellow of the flower petals. This must be a male, emerged from hibernation, probably in an old hollow tree and now claiming its territory on the river bank. A healthy growth of nettles is needed for egg-laying later.
Lots of Orange Tip butterflies were ranging along the river banks where there are plenty of Cuckooflower plants this year - the choicest plant for the Orange Tip caterpillar.
It was good to see a long-tailed tit foraging, they will usually only be seen in ones and twos at this time of year when they are very busy nesting.
A sudden mixed crowd of birds flew up in the distance, 6 goldfinch, about 20 starlings, 10 woodpigeons, and 5 more goldfinch. More birds, undisturbed, were busy within the shelter of brambles - these were chattering house sparrows, dunnock, robin, blue and great tits and song thrush. Looking up the skylarks today were singing high in the blue sky- then one was seen to land amongst the long clumps of grass whilst its mate hovered over what was almost certainly a nest site. A third skylark landed too but was quickly chased away but didn't fly far - all the while singing - no competition today from usually loud nuthatches and woodpeckers - a good indication that these are nesting in silence.
Low down on the river, now flowing fast after the rain, well hidden amongst some long reeds and grasses was a female mallard surrounded by at least 12 chicks.
Chiffchaffs were also busy calling and foraging, now a common sight and sound again. The sun shone warmly on the dandelions and a splendid Peacock butterfly flew across and perched on one, wings open to soak up the sun, its brilliant colours clashing somewhat with the bright yellow of the flower petals. This must be a male, emerged from hibernation, probably in an old hollow tree and now claiming its territory on the river bank. A healthy growth of nettles is needed for egg-laying later.
Lots of Orange Tip butterflies were ranging along the river banks where there are plenty of Cuckooflower plants this year - the choicest plant for the Orange Tip caterpillar.
It was good to see a long-tailed tit foraging, they will usually only be seen in ones and twos at this time of year when they are very busy nesting.
A sudden mixed crowd of birds flew up in the distance, 6 goldfinch, about 20 starlings, 10 woodpigeons, and 5 more goldfinch. More birds, undisturbed, were busy within the shelter of brambles - these were chattering house sparrows, dunnock, robin, blue and great tits and song thrush. Looking up the skylarks today were singing high in the blue sky- then one was seen to land amongst the long clumps of grass whilst its mate hovered over what was almost certainly a nest site. A third skylark landed too but was quickly chased away but didn't fly far - all the while singing - no competition today from usually loud nuthatches and woodpeckers - a good indication that these are nesting in silence.
Low down on the river, now flowing fast after the rain, well hidden amongst some long reeds and grasses was a female mallard surrounded by at least 12 chicks.
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