Your Wildlife Sightings!

Yes me and my mate hit the moors just before first light, only 2 species of raptor seen which was a let down, but I well spotted a stunning displaying Black Grouse, we got great views and heard his crazy courting sounds. That was my first Black Grouse for 3 years. A good few Wheatears and Stonechats were seen and some handsome Reed Buntings.

My mate ever so briefly saw an adder, I missed it, so I am still yet to see one. We also bumped into a neat flock of 25 Fieldfare, such handsome birds. We also enjoyed both calling Curlews and Lapwings. so later in the week i look set to go to my favourite Valley in North Wales where I should do a lot better on the raptor front and also get some good woodland and moorland passerines.

The weather is stunning at the moment which really helps.

 

Yellow Chested Halfwit found in Greenland

 

I saw my first Swallow of the year yesterday. sitting on a wire directly in front of my bedroom window.

 

Well I did a long but enjoyable slog up on the hills moors and woods in Snowdonia today bagging my first Redstarts of the year getting fine views of several dapper singing males, such stunning songbirds. I also got my first Pied Flycatchers of the year getting fine views of 2 singing handsome males.

2 Ring Ouzels were noted, good numbers of Stonechat and Wheatear, my first Tree Pipit of the year as well. 1 distant hunting male Hen Harrier was very well spotted and also both a single and a pair of Red Kite. So not a bad outing adding a very brief sighting indeed of a Common Lizard.

PS A Peregrine nest site I located 3 weeks ago was very vocal.

 

Early this morning on my local headland I more than was delighted to come across an ever so handsome male Yellowhammer which to say the least are very scarce in my local area. He even sang for a wee while before flying off and out of sight. This has made my day. Also 3 male Wheatear passed through.

 

I've only ever seen a Yellowhammer once good friend. Up in the Cairngorms . Superb spot and seeing Ospreys... It was a great day

 

Early this morning on my local headland I got very brief views of a male Ring Ouzel passing through. Also a couple of firsts of the year with a cool Whimbrel calling wee wee wee wee as it flew past over the sea and a couple of reeling Grasshopper Warblers.

3 Tree Pipits were passing through with 70 Meadow Pipits. 4 Common Crossbill flew quite low overhead, 3 Swallows went through and 3 male Wheatear passed though. So migration in full swing.

Oh and yesterday afternoon I went on a butterfly patrol (my * friend will be beyond delighted) in my local woodland and field area gaining easily my biggest count of species of the year, some 8 including the ever so large and yellow Brimstone. Large White, Small White, Comma, Peacock, Holy Blue, Speckled Wood and Orange Tip made up the other 7.

 

Have been absent from the thread for a while but was going through my phone and found some nice pics of a visit to the Bermuda Zoological Society from when I was there over christmas 2023.

 

Early this morning on my local seafront I saw my first Gannet of the year sail by quite close in. I also saw 5 Common Scoter flying a bit further out to sea.

This afternoon on a walk through my local farmland I well spotted a Red Kite at distance and well spotted a male Peregrine. I could also hear a Green Woodpecker calling from the local woodland.

 

A few from a quietish Ahamlish over a couple of weekends, saw my first Swallows of the year and also a pair of Sandwich terns on Saturday morning, also my local woodland walk is back open again after the clear up of the carnage storm Eowyn left behind, the daily morning walks are back and it's heart warming to hear the birdsong again

 

Birdsong is one of life's great pleasures Johnie. If more people listened to it, the world might become a better place

 

Superb photos Johnie especially the 2 drake Red Breasted Mergansers having a squabble

 

Superb photos as always John.

 

Correct John , the planet seems to be a bit * up at the moment.

 

Thanks Bhoys

 

On my local headland early this morning the local pair of Peregrines showed really well over the cliffs, the male and female doing display flights calling, the size difference very evident. Also 4 Tree Pipit passed through as did 6 Wheatear,.

Later in the morning at my tiny local marsh I recorded my first Sedge Warbler of the year.