Saturday 27 March 2010

Chestnuts in March...






The med gull has been showing well these last few days on South Marsh East - but not today - or for that matter when I go near it with a camera! Have a look on the Hull Valley site for pics from photographers with more luck!. Further reports of sand martin and little ringed plover have been logged, but it seems last Sunday may have been a point of exodus for many of our winter visitors, with no woodcock or bittern since since Sunday, or smew since tuesday. At least the brambling remain on the feeders - keeping out the way of our resident male sparrowhawk sat in the hedge this aft - his much larger girlfriend was present yesterday also. Also yesterday a male marsh harrier made a brief foray over South Marsh East before heading west. The ringing group started their constant effort survey programme in South Scrub this morning - see their results throughout the year here. Moth trapping was the best yet this year with 45 caught, red chestnut pictured being the choice species. Pintail was the best bird of the day pictured on South Marsh East, with grey partridge near D Res. An unfortunate sighting was what is presumably a harlequin ladybird in North Marsh hide - winter obviously wasn't cold enough!