Lockdown - Some local goodies

Numbers continue to hit our screens.  They are hard to comprehend and it's difficult to know how to feel when faced with our daily dose of sombre statistics.  It doesn't seem real while tucked away at home .

Taking any comfort to maintain equilibrium whether it's peering out on a nights sky to see a glowing full moon dominating the night sky, or heading out on local walks brings with it a sense of comfort.

I get to enjoy views like this just a fifteen minute walk from home.

The circuit loops through the countryside and back over the A505 bypass.

The airfield used in usual times for the NLMFC model aircraft flying club.  The large grassy area has been great for Northern Wheatear that have been regular since the first sighting on the 8th. 

A single Wheatear was present on the 11th on the Radwell plateau with a Yellow Wagtail there will I'm sure be a regular sighting through the Spring/Summer.  There were seven Swallow sighted on the 11th predominantly around Ivel Springs and Nortonbury.  Three Gadwall (11th) was my first record for Radwell Lake.

The 12th saw another two Wheatear, one along the Wallington Road and the other up on the Icknield Way (IW) ridge east of Baldock.  My first Common Whitethroat of the year was seen along the Baldock Road by the A505 roundabout. 

Things started to pick up on the 14th.  I decided to concentrate my truncated birding efforts to the eastern side of Baldock simply because it is a lot quieter and the scenery is most agreeable.

Four Wheatear were seen with three on the airfield and one on the IW ridge.  A quick visit to the Ashwell Road yielded two Yellow Wagtail.  Two Swallow headed over Nortonbury.

The 15th provided the first bit of local quality.  Having seen a report of a Redstart by a local birder, I was able to head down to the barns by the airfield and immediately saw a fem type Black Redstart by the farm vehicles.  It was very flighty so was happy to have had views of it on top of the large sheds.

There was a male Wheatear and a Yellow Wagtail on the airfield.

Two Common Whitethroat were singing, one along Warren Lane and another along the Wallington Road.

The next day (16th) saw the arrival of one of my favourite Spring migrants.  A stunning male Whinchat was found by a local birder on the sparse scrub along Warren Lane by the barns.  It ended up being a decent day with two Whitethroat, two Lapwing, a Coal Tit singing in woodland along the Icknield Way Trail. three Yellow Wagtail, and a singing Willow Warbler in a small copse along the Hertfordshire Way.

I've also succumbed to the zeitgeist having purchased an external microphone in an attempt to capture some nocmig calls.  It's been a woeful start but hoping a few DIY modifications may improve results.