Wednesday 11 April 2018

Butternut squash is gonna change my life!!









......well that's what the sandwich wrapper suggests although I'm unsure what changes I can expect.

The Redshank and two of the five displaying LRPs eventually did a stroll past Tern Hide giving decent views in the only half-decent light today. Duck wise still six Goldeneyes, four Goosanders and three of the seven Garganeys which suddenly appeared on the island presumably having been concealed by sleeping Shovelers. Some disturbance to ducks and gulls was a pointer to an overflying Peregrine which headed off eastwards. 

The feeders are seeing less and less activity with just singles of Reed Bunting and Brambling although several Bank Voles are becoming more confiding. New in was a singing Reed Warbler in the reeds of the Silt Pond and a Kingfisher was calling along a very flooded Dockens Water; there must have been lots of rain here in the last couple of days - the Avon was very full and the surrounding fields flooded.

Lunch at reception pond produced two each of female Anthophora plumipes, Bombus pascuorum and Bombus pratorum but elsewhere fewer Honey Bees and no sign of Saturday's Andrena clarkellas; just a single male Brimstone.

The grey and chilly weather was bookended by nice sunny weather in Pompey!!

PS As seems to be the way frequently, a late-afternoon quality bird turned up after leaving, today an Osprey  for PW!!