Otter day
25 Apr 2015
A few more migrants including wheatears (you can tell them by their white rumps – the bird's name is derived from Old English meaning 'white-arse'). But by far the highlight today was seeing two otters in broad daylight, one of which was just snuffling along through the reeds between the twin banks a few yards away from me. Magic.
Jeremy
News today
24 Apr 2015
New birds in today included lesser whitethroat and yellow wagtail. We also had another survey training session – on reptiles and amphibians – and we did discover one lizard!
jeremy
Groppers
23 Apr 2015
Chilly first thing with a persistent NE wind depressing bird song, but there are now two grasshopper warblers singing near the Sluice, so a second one must have come in overnight. Later in the day it warmed up and several swallows were swooping around and singing over the line of houses.
Jeremy
First cuckoo
22 April 2015
Bang on cue, the first cuckoo early this morning. Their arrival is beautifully coordinated to get here just after the reed warblers they parasitise (and they came yesterday!). Soon you'll be hearing them later in the day too. Several cetti's warblers singing too. A good place to hear those is near the Sluice and it's an unmistakably loud and explosive song, 'Tea, will you get the tea, will you get the tea', which reminds me it's time for breakfast ...
Jeremy
Dawn
21 Apr 2015
A very early morning start paid off with lots of singing sedge warblers at the Sluice and a grasshopper warbler reeling away nearby. The latter very interesting since they are quite rare but I have heard them here before and it may possibly stay to breed. I also saw a fine male ring ouzel perched up on a bush (this is the species that brought crowds here last week, but I had this one to myself) – this bird will be heading north to the Pennines or Scotland.
Jeremy
Warblers
20 Apr 2015
Yes, sedge and reed warblers in today, as predicted (nature is so punctual!). Also a buzzard overhead near the Sluice and a water rail squealing in the ditch there – these visit in winter and are very hard ever to see but I'd be surprised if they ever breed here, though you never know.
Jeremy
Swallows
19 April 2015
Chill day not very welcoming to migrants but there were half a dozen swallows and two house martins over the lagoons late afternoon. And the wind seems to have moved south at last, so watch this space ...
Jeremy
First catch
18 April 2015
Elizabeth has just phoned me in a state of some elation to report that she has just trapped a wood mouse in her back garden, following our training session yesterday. Elizabeth gets the prize for the first catch. Beats all-night fishing off the beach!
Jeremy
First migrants
18 April 2015
Just heard (and seen) the first common whitethroat in the big blackthorn bush on the right as you start walking along the seawall towards East Lane. A characteristic deep churring alarm call.
The migrants are arriving every day now. This coming week we should hear the first cuckoo and the first sedge and reed warblers in the reedbeds.
Jeremy
Survey note
17 Apr 2015
Our first survey training session today. Eight stalwart surveyors duly caught some bank voles and wood mice, inspected a range of small mammal skulls, played with traps and tracking devices, and cautiously sniffed some otter spraints (quite a sweet smell actually, and wonderful to think we have otters in our midst). This could be addictive. Reptiles next week!
Jeremy
