Flowers and Birds

Saturday 27th - Sunday 28th April 2013
Pasqueflower, Barnsley Warren
With Mike at Coombe Hill Meadows the GREAT WHITE EGRET was still present Saturday morning, but always distant towards the Long Pool. Also three Yellow Wagtails, including a stunning male, a Pied Wagtail and a White Wagtail, three Tufted Ducks (2m, 1f), three Shelducks, five Common Sandpipers, two Redshanks, two Curlews, 10+ Lapwings, a Little Egret, two Swallows, and along the canal two Lesser Whitethroats, plus Whitethroats, Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs, and Sedge Warblers.
Pasqueflower, Barnsley Warren
Later my attention turned to botany with a visit to Barnsley Warren to see the Pasqueflower display, and then to North Meadow, Cricklade (Wilts) for the Snake's Head Fritillaries. The Pasqueflowers are just coming to their peak and looking superb. I left it too late last yer and they had all gone over, so it was nice to see them in flower. I also noted a Wheatear here and c10 Linnets.
Snake's Head Fritillary, North Meadow, Cricklade
At North Meadow, it was a different picture. Very few of the Fritillaries are in flower this year following the effects of the prolonged cold spell and standing water earlier in the year. There will be more flowers to follow, but the meadow was looking very different from previous years. Bird interest here included two Yellow Wagtails and a Pied Wagtail on an adjoining field alongside the Thames, a Sedge Warbler, and a Kingfisher.
Arctic Tern, WWT Slimbridge South Lake
This morning at WWT Slimbridge, the high tide was quiet with just 23 Curlews and a mixed flock of c50 Ringed Plovers and Dunlins on the river. Five White Wagtails and a Yellow Wagtail turned up on the Holden scrape, and a Lesser Whitethroat and Whitethroat were near the tower. A Peregrine and Buzzard were on The Dumbles, and a Kestrel near Middle Point. Arctic Terns continue to linger locally, with nine still on South Lake, also a Common Sandpiper here
Arctic Tern, WWT Slimbridge South Lake
Arctic Tern, WWT Slimbridge South Lake
Common Sandpiper, WWT Slimbridge South Lake

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