Saturday 27th April

I had a day in the garden today, I my sons and their friends are reducing the conifers surrounding my garden from 60ft down to about 20ft. Not in an attempt to see more birds on my garden list but to let some light in. The Captain joined us for a few hours this afternoon, and we actually saw a few good birds first a Sparrowhawk was soaring above the house and was soon joined by a pair of Hobby. We were watching them when the Captain picked up a large flock of around 50 Swift really high heading north. Later a pair of Raven flew overhead attracting attention from the gardens breeding Carrion Crows. I was accompanied all day by a singing Song Thrush and there was also Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler singing at times.

Hopefully though, with the trees a lot lower I might pick up anything high in the sky from the east and north now!

Wednesday 24th April

An adult Little Gull graced the Reservoir today (Steve Haynes) he also had a fly over Whimbrel. I took a walk over late evening the gull was still present with eight Common Tern, Kittiwake and a singing Blackcap in the car park.

Looking at the water level I think any waders this spring are all going to be fly over!!!

The Weekend and Monday

I have visited the last three days but there hasn’t been much to report. On Saturday Mark Fennell reported a couple of Blackcap, I had at least five today on a flying visit at lunchtime. It was strangely quiet with few birds singing. There were only four Common Tern today and c.350 Black-headed Gulls.

Even the hirundines have been thin on the ground over the weekend with just single figures.

Oh, and the Kittiwake is still around!

Later on there was a single Common Sandpiper and a calling male Tawny Owl near the small pool, this is the same area that I have heard one calling for the previous two years.

Kittiwake

Common Tern

Friday 19th April

Had a wander this afternoon, not much about 12 Common Tern, 3 Common Sandpiper, 1 Swallow, 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff and a duck that dare not say its name. Pretty poor really, not help by a text from a friend in Scotland who had a Pallid Harrier fly over his head on his local patch!

Oh and the Kittiwake is still around.

Wednesday 17th April

I abandoned my Scottish trip and returned home on Tuesday evening, if you can imagine the wind of the last two days and triple it, it will give you an idea of what it was like. We tried and failed to climb a lesser summit close to Perth but once we attained the ridge it was nearly impossible to walk. The forecast was for more of the same so well cried off.

I didn’t even see that many birds. On the way up we tried for Red-breasted Goose on the Solway but although we saw thousands of Barnacle Geese the above mentioned target remained frustratingly out of view throughout.

I did see a single Short-eared Owl in Glen Quaich along with Red Grouse. On Sunday we walked along the River Tay and there were good numbers of Sand Martin and Swallow which was a bit of a surprise considering how slow they have been down here.

I managed to get over the Reservoir last evening with the Captain were there were two Arctic Tern and around 12 Common Tern. The Kittiwake remains, looking less healthy by the day. Hirundines totalled over 100 split equally between Swallow and Sand Martin with three House Martin. Two Common Sandpiper were trying to find somewhere to feed and didn’t appear to settle. Passerine wise a couple of Chiffchaff and a flushed Pipit which flew up out of the long grass over the hedge which we never saw again were the only other birds of note.

Last Friday I had a Tern at the far end which I could not relocate but the next day there was Arctic and Common present. The 14th saw Arctic Tern and Yellow Wagtail. Whilst the 16th had a couple of Sandwich Tern in the evening.

Friday 12th April

I managed to get over for an hour late afternoon, the Kittiwake was still present. There was also a Common Tern which didn’t stay. There are around 6 Chiffchaff on site but apart from several Sand Martins and a single Swallow there was little to excite.

During the week there have been a couple of reports of Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, but migrants are still thin on the ground. I am off to Scotland for a week of Hill Walking, but with 100mph winds forecast for Sunday it won’t be till later in the week. This is the year of the big push I hope to finish the Munro’s an adopt a more leisurely life style – I hope my knee stands up to the punishment!

9th April 2013

Cold and windy again, the Kittiwake is still here, probably glad it is, if it is this wild inland what the hell is the coast like!

There was a single Redshank and in all honesty not a lot else.