A further 24 species were added in April as follows -Alpine Swift on 1st (123), Wheatear on 2nd (124), Raven on 2nd (125), House Martin on 2nd (126), Willow Warbler on 3rd (127), Blackcap on 4th (128), Common Sandpiper on 5th (129), Reed Warbler on 7th (130), Yellow Wagtail on 9th (131), Garganey on 11th (132), Whitethroat on 11th (133), Little Gull on 11th (134), Arctic Tern on 12th (135), Whimbrel on 12th (136), Sedge Warbler on 14th (137), Osprey on 14th (138), Lesser Whitethroat on 15th (139), Garden Warbler on 17th (140), Greenshank on 17th (141), Swift on 18th (142), Grasshopper Warbler on 19th (143), Cuckoo on 20th (144), Common Tern on 24th (145) and finally Hobby on 25th (146).
Last year the total at the end of April was 138 therefore this year we are 8 species better off. However 7 species had been seen by then last year but not this year, Merlin, Mandarin, Bean Goose, Rock Pipit, Tree Pipit, Black Tern and Grey Plover.
The good spring this year has been halted by the weather for the last couple of weeks with the Northerly winds and snow on and off. We have only had 2 new species since 18th April (Common Tern and Hobby) bu the Hobby was number 146. We didn't reach 146 (Gull Billed Tern) last year until 16th June nearly 2 months later confirming the really poor spring last year. Let's hope both the weather and the birds pick up from now on.
For comparison some other inland sites totals are as follows - Lound, Nottinghamshire ???, Swillington Ings, West Yorkshire 148, Upton Warren, Worcestershire 124, Hatfield Moors, South Yorkshire 140 and Potteric Carr, South Yorkshire 135.
No comments:
Post a Comment