Lockdown - Keeping on top of things

The warm weather has at least provided solace for some as we all endure this horrendous period of our lives.

Taking advantage of my one daily exercise opportunity per day - a bike ride round the local area absorbing the morning views across the rolling countryside.  It looks great when the sun's out.

Across the arable landscape, Skylark are abundant. Corn Bunting appear to sing from every vantage point.

Corn Bunting

An assortment of farmland birds include regular sightings of Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting, and Meadow Pipit.

Reed Bunting

There have been occasional sightings of Grey Partridge on various dates with an adult and a young bird on the 7th.

The weather has improved with a flourish but it was a little cooler last weekend when in the hope of connecting with my first summer migrants, I instead had a flock of around 100 Fieldfare in an newly ploughed arable field near The Nook [farm] on the 3rd.  A single bird was seen on the 4th.

The Baldock Raptor Watchpoint (my balcony) has been excellent for thermaling Buzzard with a maximum of 6 seen today (8th).  Red Kite and Sparrowhawk (max of 3) are daily sightings.  A Peregrine on the 4th and the 8th were high-flying individuals with only a single Kestrel seen on 7th when an equally high-flying Cormorant was also thermalling as the temperatures started to rise.

Passerines are a bit thin 'in the sky' with just a single Meadow Pipit over on the 7th.  A group of six Swallow flew through on the 8th.

3 of 6 Buzzard seen together on the 8th

The Starlings have been providing a lot of entertainment.  The impressive variety of sound, the clicks, wheezes, and an impressive measure of mimicry taking off Buzzard, Swallow and Meadow Pipit as they strut around the rooftops.

The first migrants for the local area were noted on the 5th when three Sand Martin powered over the fields at Wallington.  My first Swallow were then seen at Nortonbury with two there.  A Blackcap was singing in Ivel Springs.

These numbers increased on the 6th when a total of ten Swallow were seen with four Blackcap singing in various locations of the circuit.

The weather was gradually improving, beautiful blue skies and rising temperatures.  The 7th was a really good morning hearing and seeing my first Willow Warbler of the year near Clothall Common.  One of my favourite UK singers.

Willow Warbler

Around the fields off Ashwell Road saw my first two Yellow Wagtail (8th).  One perched briefly in a tree  near the dung heap and the other flying over near Radwell.

A Raven flew through over the fields and at Radwell Lake, 12 Tufted Duck and a Little Egret were present there as was a singing male Blackcap.  Another had been heard at Clothall Common.

Two Swallow were flying around Ivel Springs.

The 8th was another really good morning.  After seeing two late 1cy Common Gull in fields off Bygrave Road, I made my way up to the plateau of the 'back-fields' where two Northern Wheatear were feeding within the arable fields.  A bird I had been waiting to see for the past week.

male Northern Wheatear

Clearly on the move, they didn't stick around for too long.

A total of four Swallow were seen today mainly around Ivel Springs.  Two Gadwall, two Grey Wagtail and two Kestrel were notable at Radwell Lake.