Oughtonhead Common

Despite the dull light, the rain held off for my first walk with the RSPB Hitchin & Letchworth Group this year. My highlights were two pairs of Green and Great-spotted Woodpeckers, a very close male Blackcap, a Reed Warbler, a Reed Bunting, Chiffchaffs, a Willow Warbler, a Jay and a singing Whitethroat. The light was just about good enough to upload a few photos.

Chiffchaff

Reed Bunting

Great-spotted Woodpecker

Green Woodpecker

Wrest Park

Treecreeper

Treecreeper

Treecreeper taking a caterpillar

Spotted Flycatcher, one of a pair. One of my favourite birds.

Spotted Flycatcher

Spotted Flycatcher

Spotted Flycatcher

Swan

New arrivals

It's happening all at once. In the last few days we've seen our first baby Sparrows, Goldfinches, Blackbirds, Starlings and Robins in the garden this year. Adult Blue Tits, Great Tits, Bullfinches, Great-spotted Woodpeckers, a Jay and singing Blackcaps have all been been in and around the garden lately as well, so hopefully more young will be seen soon. The last three photos of the Blackbirds were taken by my dad.

Adult and baby House Sparrow

Baby Starling

Baby Starling

Cantharis rustica, a species of soldier beetle

Cantharis rustica, a species of soldier beetle

Adult male Great-spotted Woodpecker

Baby Blackbird

Baby Blackbird

Baby Blackbird

Adult female Blackbird

Hitch Wood Bluebells

Stock Doves

There have been two Stock Doves in our garden on and off for the past few weeks. A brilliant bird in my opinion, although many would disagree because of the pigeon resemblance.

Firsts for the year

Four swifts flew over the house and we saw a hedgehog in the garden this evening. We also saw three Swallows on and around the wire in Great Wymondley yesterday.

Rutland Water

We visited the Lyndon and Eggleton reserves on what was possibly the finest day of the year. The highlights were; two Ospreys, two Garden Warblers, two Whitethroats, four Sedge Warblers, a Greenshank, a Little Gull, an Avocet, nesting Great Crested Grebes, Swallows, Sand Martins and House Martins, Common Terns, Tree Sparrows and lots of Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps and Willow Warblers. We also saw lots of Orange Tips, Peacocks and Small Whites.

Ospreys

Great-crested Grebes

Great-crested Grebe

Great-crested Grebe and Mallard

House Martin

House Martins

Common Tern

Sedge Warbler

Sedge Warbler

Reed Bunting and Sedge Warbler

Reed Bunting

Willow Warbler

 Willow Warbler

Female Orange-tip

Lapwing

Greenshank

Female Pheasant

Osprey