This post is another all-over-the-shop cornucopia of wildlife sightings locally.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGBTBAxG5s-c-8FS6Cpu5sVxEhzBKEIdomM8JeIoCyIpGSvjLTDQsuOk3lhmWJOV8Y4D_rqIWX7pfDPSMSs5IY0lp2KnEERYp2uVxgGX0drz9K7xF0nW2zW-HEBHUgwT9529nhaRitwSx7xXV0qvDxaccsfxWzwh0OsPDHBGhNUO1fztwNQx1iSA/s16000/Lesser-Redpoll-2.jpg) |
Lesser Redpolls. |
In April I like to keep an even closer eye on my bird feeders than usual because there is always the chance of a Brambling or Mealy Redpoll on its return migration. Who knows, even a Hawfinch is a possibility.
To keep up the Mealy hopes I make sure the niger is filled each morning. This has attracted up to 20 Goldfinches at a time and a couple of Siskins on some days. The other day two Redpolls appeared, both Lessers and one was injured with a broken leg. That didn't seem to hamper it as it fed well for a couple of days before departure.
While it was sunny in the garden on Saturday a Holly Blue kept me company. A second was along the road by the Village Hall. The slow moth trapping continues with a nice Chamomile Shark being the highlight. This is only my 3rd here in 15 yrs.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgph8YTgvZ8MI_tSwliD371Z5x-bSmApGP52nlTGtnAPXiQMP_fCubwWr4BO_sVVaLYnhCYV9lopg2YLeaqzyfS-ycPlINLxAQDFrjAsVG3cpUbYY33oS1hIMo92y23CnZFJ9HJP5pt1TbPD4ElDsaadEU3Rf9NK2LHbKfx0EmxfByg9vD9O_YVrw/s16000/Chamomile-Shark-3.jpg) |
Chamomile Shark |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJLMRvNZoM-fg0TvDlmgWDMBd09sQyXp1_6SXbuo043jJbIs9WiMd-uuaiZGjZquUTiDuvPwWXCr8YWVosWatSobh1SIC8I244W3Y-z1NpPzV4bMquMqdMmuqfyxwq_RnX9ZH56zZLCByoF3Z1hAryyDlFpBjzYeuiu2O85Srtl2mIS0hW1aDCDQ/s16000/Hairy-footed-Flower-Bee-1.jpg) |
The ever present ( in spring anyway) Hairy Footed Flower Bee males. |
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Above - Holly Blue butterfly. Still earlier that usual... |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh40VMzwdiFC-YtXw8Wqv8GmO8oIxDIpUjucjjKirqNOL-0FXyEgkNfoC8AfudEhxPe23La9sSaZKoNB5To6wAxasqJ_6pGDloayjfiThJ0yBUvKkwr_zZMNT5kXxOx6M4ZyAAYzz5LGLSgVxXl5N9zYKq7uSERyaib2MMsbZbd6sjpxMuqG2koWQ/s16000/Pale-mottled-Willow-1.jpg) |
This Pale Mottled Willow is the county earliest by 3 weeks. Maybe a migrant? |
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Industrial Oystercatchers. |
On Sunday we visited a new spot, a little bit further than usual but not much. You might have seen me mention our severe lack of decent woodland up here, well this spot had a quite a large area and some of it quite mature too. Mature enough to hold a single singing male Redstart that was typically camera shy as they often are.. The whole area looks good for plants and insects too when the weather warms up a bit.
Today we found a couple of pairs of Marsh Tit, including one at a nest site. This is the best year I've had for these for a decade. Long may it be so.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoiSUPR7GBux748XVsnslGBzRQLwT2wh06rPxqbKWqleYZFaUnmQDi3lim0NkgW3bB_80nEoiQsE92FGSDZbIj03qrZ5x0rP37x6UcbVj4qfc-VBNcKH6jyk4olrN7B-SJjUtlUGclWmKFgfM-ScrKvmqz2e2sKtiO5Q1OHZazgHLpM31PMNVSVQ/s16000/Marsh-Tit-3.jpg) |
Marsh Tits prospecting a likely nest site. |
Also around the area were good numbers of Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers with 3 Buzzards, Brambling heard and Siskins singing. A carpet of Bluebells were on the cusp of opening.
It just shows, no matter how long you live in a place, there are always discoveries to be made if you only look...
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