Wildfowl numbers steadily dropped and although 24x Tufted ducks were seen on the 9th May it was down to a single pair the following week.Just 3 pairs of Gadwall were seen regularly on the Broad or at rest on the waters edge and Teal had gone altogether .
On 26th April a highlight was finding 2x Wheatears at Postwick Park &Ride.Stunning birds for sure and nice to find this far up into the Yare Valley .
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| Wheatear |
Back to the patch and on 28th ,2x Little Egrets (one on the deck!) double my best counts for this bird.I regularly seem to being getting one drop into the pools or fly off south but to have 2 was great. Noticeably the Grey Herons were now more active and every visit throughout May I've had at least 2 and sometimes 3fishing in among the dykes or Broad edges
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| Little Egret and Grey Heron |
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| watching its prey |
Grasshopper Warblers were now up 3 , with 2 on the East Marshes and 1 on the Griffen Fen. A joy to watch as it reels away ! A little video clip below from later in May below to watch as it turns its head left to right sending its song around the marsh!
https://youtu.be/tBo43uOuTVc
https://youtu.be/tBo43uOuTVc
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| Grasshopper Warbler |
The month of May started off as April ended with a single Common Crane over east on the 2nd . On the same day My first Audible evidence of Water Rail young was recorded , I watched the tops of the Sedges move and listened as the Parent contact called to at least 2x Juveniles
On the Water I had a Single Green Sandpiper was seen among the regular 2-3 Common Sandpipers which enjoy feeding along the West beach edge . But highlight that day and possibly for the summer is the Hatching of young on the Great Crested Grebe nest! First time I've actually seen young on thebroad in my 7-8 years of recording here on the patch , great to see as at least 2x young were seen climbing over parent and in the nest edges. I made regular visits throughout May and saw the 2x Juveniles make it into the water ( on mothers back) and then quickly go down to just a single bird a few days later.
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| GT Crested Grebe Young being fed while on parents back |
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| Gt Crested Grebe and young on back |
Staying with the subject of Fledglings on the 5th I was treated to something special ! I walked down bungalow lane and after watching Chaffinch and Collar dove young being fed I heard a Treecreeper . I quickly then heard some high calls of young.
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| Treecreeper newly fledged |
I located a young Treecreeper that had clearly just fledge this day and soon watched 5x young Treecreepers all spread about the dyke edge gather together on the same tree .Love how they go about climbing up the trees and how they use there tail as a support. I watched as both parents spent time going back & forth feeding the young and often whizzing close ,right by me as they did. I filmed a bit of it to share here -
The Patch had that Spring feeling with sedge , Blackcaps and willow warblers singing , fledglings being fed & the sunshine on my face ,it was magic! I made my way to the Broad to see the single young Great crested grebe was doing well , still enjoying the piggy back from mum and the common Sandpipers were still present . Oystercatchers were busy getting angry as a second pair dropped in and the Stock Doves were bathing on the West beach.
On the 9th a Pair of Common Terns were fishing on the Broad and a couple of young linnets had fledged from the nest on the West of the reserve . Long Tailed Tit family's would be ever present over next week or two as they constantly contact called to one another as they went about feeding .
On the 12th I witnessed a Pair of Jays ( not often seen regularly here on the broads edge) work there way around the South of the Broad. They were sitting up on Reeds and watching in checking for any Sedge /Reed warblers Eggs ! I've not seen this before but obviously they we're taking advantage of this hidden food source ! I watched them even go into the brambles /thorns to take a egg from my second pair of Linnets nest! Mixed feelings here as on one hand I admire them for there skills but on the other hand I love my Linnets !
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| A Crafty Jay waiting, searching for possible Reed or Sedge warblers eggs no doubt |
Water Voles were seen on 4 occasions that week and one sighting I watched 2x water voles sitting on the edge and just ignore me as I stood quiet and still. Very nice and a good sign I hope that these are doing well here. Staying away from birds of note I had a Munjac Deer was seen as well in May as too the more expected the Chinese Water Deer.
Also of note was 10 X Stock Doves bathing and drinking on the West Beach. These birds are close to the domestic feral/street pigeon and always remind me of my childhood years of me helping my dad looking after hes Racing Pigeons. I would regularly watch them fly around the house and walk across the Garden floor , with the Cock bird doing he's best to impress the Hen bird.
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| Stock Doves |
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| Lapwing |
Lapwings were seen regularly in May but usually only single bird or sometimes 3/4 , Often dropping in and soon leaving
Cuckoos had been heard/seen by local birders , including Justin and Mary who came to visit the Patch with friends on a club outting , she in fact had 2 and one in the trees along railway so it was nice to finally got to hear my first for the year on the 15th May. That same day I had a pair of GT Spotted Woodpeckers feeding which was nice and a noticeable gathering on the Broad of 27x Herring Gulls .
Cettis Warbler were as usual very vocal and at least 4 were always heard but 5 on 2 occasions too.
On the 19th I watched Wren nest and enjoyed seeing the parents constantly returning with food and feeding at the nest . That same day I watched a Fox walk up the patch only to spot me and disappear. But it wasn't the last I would see of him as in the coming week I saw him in 2 more visits , always a pleasure !
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| Fox |
The same day (19th) I watched as the second Linnet nest had young fledge . Thet were getting used to there wings with some brief , joyful flights over the Reed and Broad edge .Also my first Common Whitethroat young to were noticable as they fed out along the Broad edge on the vegetation. As you can see itd all happening here at the Patch with Breeding and new arrivals. Hope the rest of the month and into june will carry on providing me these enjoyable moment!
Happy birding
Ricky
