I’ve had a few reasonable birds this week at my local patch. On 29th March I had a Woodlark fly over the Car Park at Staunton Harold heading west at 08:45hrs, a new bird for the site. Then my first Swallow on the 30th March, my earliest Swallow for Staunton Harold and then on 31st March, my first Sand Martin (2) and Chiffchaff for this year. Very pleased as I always look forward to a few spring migrants in March, so just made it this year. Two Oystercatcher are back on site and have been around now for several weeks. Small numbers of Tufted Duck are still around and 15 – 20 Great Crested Grebe. The grebes are now beginning to pair up and much display going on at the moment. At least 5 Yellowhammer are continuing to visit the feeding station. It won’t be long before there is an influx of spring migrants and I am expecting Willow Warbler and Blackcap in the next few days. Then Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, House Martin and Common Tern. My Patch List for the year is now on 65 and my British Year List 155. Must make a conscious effort to try and increase my British List significantly.
This Woodlark was photographed at Cannock Chase, Staffordshire. It shows the distinctive flight profile, showing short broad wings and “stubby” tail.
With regards to the SHRes Woodlark I had on 29th March. I was scanning the sky line from the main car park and picked-up on a flock of 12 Redwing, unusual for this time of year. I watched the flock and then picked up on another single bird which attracted my interest and attention. It’s flight was very undulating and I first of all thought it to be a Skylark, as it was approaching almost head-on. Great excitement, a year tick I thought, as Skylarks are getting scarce at my patch site. I continued watching the bird with ever more interest, as I began to think this wasn’t a Skylark. As the bird got closer, I began to realise that it was a Woodlark. I’ve seen many before both in UK and in Europe and they have such a distinctive “Jizz” in flight. Short broad-wings giving it a “Bat” like impression, a typical lark’s undulating flight, recalling a small woodpecker and a short stubby tail, typical of Woodlark. Needless to say I was “Gob Smacked” and highly delighted with my find..
