A bitter wind picked up

The Safari was at work this morning at an event about cleaning and greening the town led by our local MP Gorden Marsden (Lab). We weren't able to stop for the full time due to a prior engagement with Wifey so unfortunately we had to miss the plenary and questions sessions. We've arranged to email a short set of bullet points to him early next week and have some ideas jotted down prompted by his speech to the full house. Good to see so many people interested in greening our town - just hope that doesn't mean 'tidying up' as that all too often means destroying the important biodiversity we have, better would be to cleverly link the green areas by managing but not tidying.

Once Wifey was organised we were able to have a couple of hours at the nature reserve. We had a good scour round the wetlands to see if there were any Whinchats about - not today sadly! Moving on it was quiet apart from Wrens, well it always is mid-afternoon. 

A very battered Small Tortoiseshell wouldn't stay still for a pic in the warm sunshine. 

As soon as we were in the reserve we heard a Lesser Whitethroat (142, MMLNR #90) rattling away in the scrub to our left. We heard another a hundred yards further on as we walked down to the new hide. A Reed Warbler chattered away deep in the reeds in the bright sunshine. The same sunshine spectacularly illuminated several Water Dock plants on the edge of the recently dredged pool.

A gull flush alerted us to a Buzzard soaring high above them down at the far end of the mere. The pool was bow playing host to a family of Grey Lag Geese.

Moseying on we met MB and his mate with whom we had a shuffy round for the Bee Orchid rosettes finding only one small one to show them. 

We parted company after being told they'd heard two Grasshopper Warblers down at the embankment. We were going that way but stopped at the scrape to find a Common Sandpiper (MMLNR #91).
We soon heard one of the Grasshopper Warblers at the embankment and were joined by BD and between us had a good listen to see if we could see where it was singing from but it wouldn't come out of deep cover in the now strengthening and chilly wind. The reed bed behind us held a Sedge Warbler and a couple of Reed Warblers but the Cetti's Warblers were noticeably quiet today. A Sparrowhawk drifted north.
At the hide we didn't see too much but the scrape provided eight Mallards, seven Teal, two pairs of Shovelers and three Shelducks, the Common Sandpiper was still working the water's edge too. 
Time was no pressing as Wifey was ready to be picked up so it was back to the car passing the Snake's Head Fritillary meadow on the way. There was only one! We think the Rabbits may have nibbled the flowers of the others. There were plenty of Cowslips and there's going to be a fine show of Meadow Cranesbills and Agrimony.

We didn't stop at the Feeding Station, there's no food there now until next autumn. A little further on BD spotted a Weasel which we missed, not seen one for far too long now! Above it the first/another Lesser Whitethroat sang but by eck that wind was cutting like a knife now totally nullifying the sunshine.

A last look at the wetland didn't give  us anything, we're still waiting for our first common Whitethroat of the year.

Where to next? We could well be back out there early, before breakfast.
In the meantime let us know who's too fluffy for their own good in your outback.

A similar day but better pics

The Safari was delving into the moth trap with excitement this morning as we'd been able to use the big light last night, we got a slightly better catch than of recent was five Hebrew Characters showing their variety in shades and sizes and a rather pale Common Quaker but maybe the usual black CFL would have pulled these in too.

the nature reserve not quiet as early as yesterday but the morning was less windy and much warmer, consequently the birdsong was much more in evidence. As soon as we left the Land Rover and went through the gate we spotted this lovely male Reed Bunting pulling seeds out of the fluffbombs that are the heads of the Greater Reedmace against the low sun the scene was very dramatic - a stunning way to start the day.

Wandering on we enjoyed the songs of Lesser Whitethroat at the allotments and normal Whitethroats in the Brambles and Hawthorns a little further on. Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and Blackbirds added to the morning music.

The track leading to thee old cabins had a few small birds 'feeding' on grit at the side of the path, we put the bins on them to reveal they were a pair of Chaffinches and a pair of Linnets. There seem to be a few more Linnets around this year which is good to see. We tried to sneak up on them but they flushed so we were pleased to have fired off a few shots a minute or so earlier.

Inside the reserve we soon heard the reel of the Grasshopper Warbler but could we see it!!! The 'inland' Cetti's Warbler was vocal again but once again unseen. Notable by their absence were Willow Warblers.

In the 'Paddock' there was a real unusual sight, a pair of Grey Lag Geese, never seen them in there before...bizarre.

While we tried to get a bead on the Cetti's a male Linnet landed at the top of a nearby tree and began to sing.

Slightly over-processed - sorry, it was a fraction out of effective range.
Down where the Bee Orchids are we spotted a Puffball lurking in the grass.

Another 'inland' Cetti's, the one we so unsuccessfully photographed yesterday was blasting out at full volume but like the earlier one we couldn't get to grips with it today until it flew across the path in front of us and straight into deep cover.

Our second 'usual' Grasshopper Warbler wasn't performing today, has it moved on?

A 'new' Sedge Warbler sang enthusiastically but there was nothing from the Reed Warblers this morning. Whilst looking to see if we could get a look at said Sedgy we saw a large green leaf taller than the growing reeds, Water Dock - wow not common up this way. A look in THE book later showed no local records! We think it might have appeared in response to the recent-ish reedbed dredging works disturbing the seedbank.

Behind us the gulls went up from the fields in a raucous clamour, something had spooked them. Found it, nothing exciting just yet another helium balloon sailing on the wind on its way to becoming litter somewhere.

Another Cetti's Warbler gave much better views but all too easily evaded the lens. By the time we got all the way round we'd had a definite seven and maybe eight singing males!

A second round of the reserve mid-afternoon after the rain didn't give us the hoped for dropped migrant, in fact it was much quieter than the morning traipse.

Another great day on safari draws to a close.

Where to next? Mothy is on again. Up north tomorrow but maybe more boozin than wildlifin but there's  always something to see if you keep your eyes peeled.

In the meantime let us know who was in the most unlikely place in your outback.