Cudworth Area

Blackcap arrivals overnight saw many more appear in gardens.

Jim Plant's phone has been out of action over recent days, but is now up and running. He tells me he had a flock of Common Scotor heading east over his home at 'The grove' in upper Cudworth on Saturday night (4/4), a first for him. Today Jim had a Yellow Wagtail fly over the house.

Last night from my Cudworth garden Tawny and Little Owl were singing very near to each other at the same time 23.30hrs. A drake Teal called as it flew over in darkness moving NW.

Cudworth Common 8/4/20

Les Corrall took his usual exercise over the Common and reports Ringed Plover at the same site as recent days in the Symphony factory compound. He also saw a Buzzard, Brown Hare, 1 Speckled Wood (2 yesterday) and Brimstone male butterfly.

Later it was my turn for a walk on what turned out to be the warmest day of the year so far 21.3c. My target today, to relocate the Willow Tit for the 'Back from the Brink' survey. Sure enough one reacted to the tape lure in the area I had found them before and it soon started calling back (14.00hrs). A little further along this, or another bird, reacted by singing back for a good 10 minutes. The area they are in is a reclaimed pit stack with a mixture of coniferous and broad-leaved dry woodland. 

Other bird species of interest included 2 Grey Partridges, Jay, 2 singing Blackcaps, 5 Willow Warblers, 6 Chiffchaffs, 1 Kestrel, 3 singing Skylarks, 1 Buzzard, 3 Meadow Pipit and 2 Coal Tits were singing, 

Butterflies included 30 Peacocks, 5 Small Torts, 2m Orange-tips, 1 Comma. 

Symphony

Meadow Pipit, c20 Lapwings, 1 Ringed Plover, 10 Stock Doves.

Ferrymoor Flash

1 Cormorant, 9 Tufted Duck, 1 Pink Footed Goose and 1 Great White Egret. (I have yet to see one on my own patch - Carlton Marsh!) It was in Typha on the bypass side. It occasionally flew into some fallen Crack Willow in the middle of the flash. It was still present when I left at 16.30hrs. 

Across the way is a small settlement with a bungalow and caravan with some horses. A flooded field in front of that held 2 Little Ringed Plovers.