Local Update....

 It appears that spring came and went within a week, now we are back to winter weather.

Around my village patch things are slowly moving upwards. Since my last blog post 11 new additions have arrived - Greylag, Razorbill and Guillemot ( 15th Feb), Glaucous and Mediterranean Gulls ( 24th Feb), Stock Dove, Meadow Pipit, Whooper Swans, Water Rail, Chiffchaffs and Gannet ( all March) .

This brings the total to 87 sp for 1 .5 sq kms around my home.

The more usual Local Patch extends to double this area, 3 sq kms, stretching up the coast a bit. As it happens I haven't ventured too far from the smaller area so the wider patch can only add another 3 to the total - Shelduck, Purple Sandpiper and Greenfinch, all species I should get within the 1.5km boundary eventually. 

So, what targets can I realistically seek out the rest of this month? Things like Common Scoter, other wildfowl and some waders, like Dunlin or Sanderling passing, Lesser black backed Gull etc, mainly things that will repay further seawatches . On the land, Brambling, Peregrine, Raven have been secretive this year but may turn up.

The enjoyment of watching such a small area around home goes beyond just numbers on a list. The arrivals and activities of common birds can be appreciated too, for example through steady recording I noticed yesterday that the first singing Meadow Pipit was back on site rather than just flying over. A Magpie was nest building in village wood and also yesterday a Water Rail dashed across the lane in front of my car as I got back from work. All good stuff.

One conundrum cropped up in the dark the other night. About 7.30pm as I was getting into the car to collect a takeway, a bird called a few times over head on its way south. It stopped me in my tracks as it sounded very like a Stone Curlew. The thing about these nocturnal calls, because they remain unseen, there is always an element of uncertainty especially when there is the potential of it being a Common Curlew just making a different call. It wont be counted in any totals or submissions, but it does give a buzz of excitement regardless of its actual identity...