Chris Johnston’s latest report.
Time: 07:30-09:20 (23rd) & 07:15-09:10 (25th)
Weather: overcast, light westerly breeze, 12.5ºC-13.0ºC (23rd); sunny, clear blue sky, calm, warm, 13.5ºC-20.0ºC (25th)
Two visits were made to the reserve over the Bank Holiday weekend in bumper weather conditions. The first Reed Warblers of the year were recorded on 23rd. Generally, around the reserve there is a little less birdsong now but plenty of noise from family groups and small flocks of birds whether it be Jackdaws in Pony Wood or Starlings in West Field.
One noteworthy record was a male Chaffinch heard singing in the trees near Aldcliffe Hall Drive and audible from Pony Wood. Remarkably, this is the first time I’ve heard Chaffinch on or near the reserve this spring. 38 species were recorded in total across the two visits.
- Flora Field was fairly quiet with a couple of Brown Hares (25th). A pair of Mallards and a pair of Moorhens were on the small pool near the road. 2 Grey Herons and a separate skein of 11 Greylag Geese were seen overhead on 25th, all heading south-west.
- Singing Chiffchaff and Blackcap were in Pony Wood, along with 1 Stock Dove and a very active Great Spotted Woodpecker apparently feeding its young. 2 Jays were in Little Wood on 25th and the singing Chaffinch could be heard on both days although it is outside the reserve boundaries. A Grey Squirrel was also seen.
- The male Whitethroat was again singing along the footpath next to West Field where a single Shelduck was overhead on 25th.
- Both Blackcap and Chiffchaff were heard singing in the orchard.
- In Big Field, a male Mallard and a Moorhen were on Alder Pond. A Willow Warbler was singing along the boardwalk close to School Pond on 25th.
- A Reed Warbler was singing in the reedbed in Upper Sower Holme on 23rd and the Cetti’s Warbler was heard both days. In fact, the latter is so loud it can be heard right at the far end of Lower Sower Holme! A second Whitethroat was singing in the hedgerows alongside Hay Meadow on 25th.
- On the canal, two pairs of Mute Swans were present with 2 cygnets and 7 cygnets respectively. The male Gadwall was present on both days and a second Reed Warbler was heard singing just across the canal from the Aldcliffe Road entrance to the reserve.