You know you’ve been too long on the mosses when you begin to suspect the Lapwings of using make-up, but it’s always fun to watch ’em tumbling and wailing over the fields.
A few youngsters tottering over the black soil on the Withins and on Plex too, lusted after by Grey Herons and Carrion Crows.
While the 1995 White Crowned Sparrow at Seaforth (fond memories) may not have been as bright as the stunner down at Woolston Eyes today, it did mean I didn’t have to scoot over the Thelwall Viaduct (I hope everyone who went caught up with the Yankee humbug-head, thanks to all who contacted me about it), so I could spend a few hours out on the mosses.
Wheatears and White Wags out on the ploughed fields, with a steady, but light, stream of Swallows banging north, all low to the ground – hardly surprising in the cold wind.
Still only three or four singing Corn Buntings though, and no sign of the feeding flock from a week ago.
Haskayne Cutting had Willow Warbler, Whitethroat, Blackcap and Chiffchaff, and the impressive Orange-Tip population was finally starting to stir.
Otherwise it’s all going a bit yellow out there – what with Cowslips flowering and Reed Buntings darting about the rapeseed oil.
Led a Natterjack Walk out on the coast tonight – despite the low temperatures, good numbers of males were singing away in the dark, cranking up just before 9pm. An eerie choir.
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Excellent night John thanks alot for showing us all.
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Glad you enjoyed it Paul.
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It really is a weird Spring isn’t it? Late yesterday afternoon I found a Holly Blue butterfly in the garden – first I’ve ever seen – and thought I caught a hint of a Grasshopper Warbler reeling out across the fields at the end of the garden. This morning there it was loud and clear, and in a hedge somewhere very close by. Haven’t pinned it down yet though.
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Pair of Goldfinches nesting in my garden
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Hi John
I’m the redactor of the website http://www.ornithomedia.com, and we’d like to publsih an article about the attractivity of rapeoil for birds: would it be possible to use this photo https://johndempseybirdblog.files.wordpress.com/2016/04/dscn7551.jpg ?
Naturally, we would credit it and and add a link to your blog.
regards
David Bismuth
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Yes David, that would be fine – and thanks for the credit and link.
Regards,
John
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merci beaucoup !
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pas de probleme
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Hi John, the article is on line : http://www.ornithomedia.com/pratique/conseils/planter-colza-dans-son-jardin-pour-oiseaux-abeilles-sol-02213.html. Thank you again ! David
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Many thanks David – I saw it earlier this evening, looks good!
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merci beaucoup 🙂
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