19th - 28th March - Forget About Yesterday And The Bad Times That You've Had

 Another warm spell at the start of the second half of March suddenly brought the hope of spring right to the fore front and with that hope a wish that the rest of year will be fine.  I took the opportunity to enjoy the weather and went for a walk from the pond on the 19th at lunchtime.  A walk around the pond first delivered a smart Peacock butterfly, that just flew through.

Walking the lane towards Old Down Wood a Brimstone butterfly flew past.  On entering the wood I was greeted by my first singing Chiffchaff, two to be exact just past the entrance.  This is the time to see this delightful little warbler (sometimes known as Leaf Warblers due to their colour and size), as the absence of leaves in the trees mean it is possible to locate them as they sing.

Two together singing meant that there was the chance of some clashes and at one point one of the Chiffchaffs flew straight at the other and then chased it away into the larches, but both birds were soon back in place and singing again.

A Brimstone flew past me and settled on the bracken.

In the previous post I had seen Long-tailed Tits behaving as if they were nest building.  I found a pair in the same spot and very quickly was able to confirm my suspicions as a very neat and tidy nest of lichen, moss, feathers and spider's webs was tucked away in the bramble.

About half complete it lacks the dome at this time.  Both birds were about and both were carrying feathers while making a cautious approach to the bramble.

I walked the main path in search of butterflies, stopping to check the Tawny Owl and to scan the sky at the west end for the possibility of an eagle maybe.

With time against me I walked back to the car at the pond.  Pussy willow flowers were emerging and the flowers were attracting the bumblebees.

Before setting off I walked around the pond, the most noticeable thing were the Carp sunning on the surface of the water.

The photographs do not allow an assessment of size, but I am sure they would provide a good fight for any fisherman.

Later in the afternoon I was back walking along Brisland's lane heading for Old Down Wood once again.  Along the verge there were Wood Anemone in flower, complimenting the Lesser Celandine.

Looking out over the fields I could see loads of gulls following a tractor that was either ploughing or tilling the field,  needless to say there were quite a few gulls taking the opportunity for an easy meal, much to far away though to enable identification.

In the wood I took the perimeter path.  I was wanting to check the bluebells and to see how advanced they were.  I was though disappointed to see many trampled down by people, another victim of the Covid lockdown.

Coming along the main path from the west end I was pleased to see that the wild daffodils that grow around the beech trees were still present.

I wanted to go back to the Long-tailed Tit site to watch the nest building.  As I approached the site the birds were present.

And they were actively building the nest.

One of the Chiffchaffs was still singing close by.

But it was the Long-tailed Tits that were taking my attention.

Fascinating to watch as they push the feathers and moss into place, the nest bulging as they move around.  You can also see the tail curled over and sticking out.

With people walking through the wood I did not want to draw attention to the nest and the tits so decided to move on.  I thought with the sun quite low now it might be the best time to see the Tawny Owl.  As I approached the tree I knew pretty much where it was after checking earlier.  As I looked I could see that I was being watched.

Moving to my left I could get a better view.  What I did notice was that the white markings on the back and wings resemble very closely the lichen that has grown on the branches.

From here I headed home, the temperature was dropping despite the sunshine.  As I crossed the field towards Gradwell a Red Kite drifted over my head.

I still wasn't finished though, walking along Gradwell several Redwing flew across, one pausing in one of the trees.

While at home in the garden a nice portrait of one of the Dunnocks.

Over the weekend the highlight was a movement of Mediterranean Gulls over the house on the 21st.  There is a good chance that these were part of the large flock following the tractor on Friday.  The Mediterranean Gulls were given away by their distinctive calls, I estimated about 100 gulls circling above the garden with probably a mix of Mediterranean and Common Gulls.

The weather over the weekend was a little cooler, but the good weather returned on Monday and I took the chance for a lunchtime walk once again.  Buzzards were calling and circling over the pond.

Going back into the wood I first checked the Long-tailed Tit nest.  At first it was not easy to find, but it was there and it was still being built, albeit much further advanced with the dome and entrance hole in place.

Both birds were still busy bringing in material.

It must be almost complete as they appeared to be attending to the lining.

The Chiffchaffs were still singing, here one of them.

My attention was diverted from the Chiffchaff by a calling Green Woodpecker that showed quite well, which is not always the case, they more likely again to be seen at this time of year with the leaves still not out.

The "yaffle" call rattling out announcing its presence.

I walked around the wood, again, in search of spring butterflies.  Where the diagonal path meets the main west-east path a Tawny Owl called twice but I wasn't able to locate where the owl could be.

Walking back I counted six Chiffchaff singing, at least for male Brimstones and a pair of Raven flew over at the entrance to the wood.

Back at the car I walked around the pond looking for a Bee Fly.  This little insect is seen at this time of year either feeding on the flowers in bloom or looking for suitable egg laying sites.  I managed to find one nectaring on a Lesser Celandine.  This is the Dark-edged Bee Fly, the largest and commonest of our Bee Flies in this country.

It looks rather like a Bumblebee with a long straight proboscis that it uses to feed on the nectar.  It is on the wing in early spring and can often be seen in sunny patches.

In flight it is even more like a bee as it emits a high pitched buzz

The rest of the week saw the weather change with rain on the Thursday and Friday and high, blustery winds over the weekend when it was cold once again.  In the garden  The female Blackbird that was paired with our long time present male has dumped him and appears to have mated with another male, in  addition it looks like the chicks have attached as she is carrying off meal worms and being very adventurous in coming close to get them.  Our male still comes but looks a little sad unfortunately it would seem he has moved into the autumn of his years

The Robins seem to have paired but there are still a few confrontations when I am sure they are not sure who is who.  One of the Robin's on the left side has taken up coming to my hand to be fed which means it avoids the hastle with the Blackbirds and Starlings.

The surprise of the winter was the Wren and it is still about, and despite it's size is more than prepared to take on the bigger birds to get to the worms.  It will also come to the dishes close to the house without any fear.  Here I caught the Wren on the log looking into the dish at the worms and then grabbing one

The other busy birds are the Starlings, they will devour the worms very quickly and we have to keep an eye out to regulate their feeding.  They also have nests in the roofs around us.  One male has taken to singing and displaying outside my office window.  I have said it before, but they are beautiful birds with electric petrol coloured plumage.

Here the blur of the wings as it flaps them in display.

The rest an appreciation of the beautiful plumage.

The last few days of March are due to be very warm, temperatures in excess of twenty degrees, this will no doubt produce some more signs of spring around Four Marks.