May 072012
Local birding can sometimes be rewarding, as it was today.
Whilst scanning from platform 4 at Willington DWT Reserve, South Derbyshire, I managed to find a superb drake Garganey fast asleep on one of the small islands. A nice year tick. Plenty of common migrants about including a good movement of Swifts and plenty of Swallow, House Martin & Sand Martin. The weather is still very cold and grey for the time of year. Reed Warblers were very showy this morning but only a couple of Sedge Warbler. Common & Lesser Whitethroat were in song as were Blackcap & Garden Warbler. A Hobby flew through as did a Cuckoo.
There were 9 Common Terns across the main lagoon but not much in the way of wildfowl. Two fine male Yellow Wagtail, again another species that seems to be scarce this year.
With Redstart over the weekend in Wales, my year list moves on to 196.
IMAGES – Nos: 1 & 2 – Reed Warbler / Nos: 3 & 4 Garganey – drake / No:5 Reed Bunting – female /
No: 6 & 7 – Common Tern – basic field characters / No:8 Long-tailed Tit / No:9 Very young Starlings.
