A Spring Pause

The weather has reverted back to the more usual fare for the time of year with mostly grey skies, showers, strong winds and cool temperatures and as a result the Spring has kind of been paused for the moment with a noticeable drop in insect activity and very little bird movement.

A walk at Wembury on Saturday 2nd April was quiet with 2 pairs of Shelduck sleeping on the rocks at The Point and at least 5 singing male Blackcaps being firsts for the year here. The usual Cirl Bunting, Stonechat, Peregrine, Oystercatcher, Chiffchaff and Buzzard were also seen.

Cirl Bunting - very showy at Wembury at the moment

Cirl Bunting

There were only 2 Turnstones present on a quick walk around Plymouth Hoe on Tuesday 5th April as the Winter continues to  fade but there was unfortunately no sign of any Sandwich Terns.

A walk around Saltram and along The Plym on Thursday 7th April was quiet on land but the high tide roost at Blaxton Meadow was more interesting with 2 very smart looking summer plumaged Black-tailed Godwit being the highlight. They were very twitchy, regularly taking flight before returning to The Meadow to feed again. The Gulls, 2 Curlew and 40+ Shelduck were equally as twitchy but 4 Dunlin, 91 Redshank, 8 Greenshank, 8 Little Egret and 3 Oystercatcher were totally unfazed at whatever was causing the other birds nervousness.

Black-tailed Godwits, Blaxton Meadow

A Mute Swan was feeding on Blaxton Meadow too, the first time I have seen one here, while on the nearby bend of The Plym 2 Mute Swans were resting and preening with a Common Sandpiper and a Grey Wagtail also noted.

Friday 8th April and with a night shift again looming I headed out to Wembury in the morning for a walk. It was grey and cold and raining but forecasted to dry up later and become showery which indeed it did although it remained cold and grey.

Again the walk was very quiet with at least 5 Chiffchaffs and 4 Blackcaps heard singing away despite the inclement weather. An adult Lesser Black-backed Gull was seen amongst the Herring Gulls along the beach along with a few Great Black-backed Gulls and also noted were 31 Oystercatcher, 6 Little Egret and 7 male Mallards (3 farmyard types).

Mucky Male Mallards, Wembury

A Buzzard, a Raven, 2 male Stonechat and 5 Cirl Buntings (1 female) were also noted and feeding in the wheatfield where the wheat is just starting to germinate were 4 Red-legged Partridge, presumably 2 pairs and occupying opposite ends of the field.

Cirl Bunting