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

Purwell Ninesprings

We had a great walk at our local reserve this evening, seeing three new species for the site - Buzzard, a pair of Mistle Thrush and a Willow Warbler. We saw 21 species in total. The other highlights were 5 Swallows flying through, a Green Woodpecker and a singing Reed Warbler and Blackcap.

Common Frog

Green Woodpecker

Garden

We now have at least seven Mallards visiting the grass outside our garden in pairs. They sometimes even come into our garden just to take a nap! The Bullfinch pair are still being seen, a Blackbird is nesting right in front of our kitchen window, Great-spotted and Green Woodpeckers are also being seen and a single Chiffchaff is singing each day. I also saw two Sparrowhawks on St. Michaels Road this morning, along with a probable Blackcap singing. Blue Tits have been seen gathering nesting material but have shown no interest in our camera nest box to our frustration. This photo is of a male Great-spotted Woodpecker which was drumming on a lamppost  for about ten minutes.

Garden

A male and female Bullfinch have returned to our garden over the last few days, a month later than they did last year. We didn't see any young last year for the first time in 3-4 years. A pair of Song Thrushes have been in the garden regularly - the first time that we've seen two Song Thrushes in the garden. Three Swallows flew low over the house today. I've also seen a Brimstone in the garden three times in the last week. Spring has, finally, begun.

Goldfinch

Goldfinch

Goldfinch

Female Bullfinch

Song Thrush

Hyde Park

We failed to find the adults or the four young Tawny Owls, as well as the Little Owl and Redstarts. I did however, see my first House Martin and Mandarin of the year.

Grey Heron & Mandarin

Mandarin

Mandarin

Egyptian Geese

Egyptian Goose

Green Woodpecker

Green Woodpecker

Goldcrest

Goldcrest

Jay

Great Tit

Cambridge Waxwings

I used my free time at the Cambridge University Easter School wisely to find the Waxwings on Montgomery Road, a 45 minute walk away! Whilst being a new bird for this year, my main motive was to see this stunning bird again. They didn't disappoint! I saw nine in a tree in front of me and photographed one on the ground less than three metres away. The photos were taken with my iPhone.

Ashwell

Corn Bunting














We had incredible views of a male Wheatear the previous evening, but I didn't have my camera with me. This photo was taken by my uncle, Colin Edwards: