Monday 30th March: Osprey!
Another wonderfully sunny start on the Meadow first thing but soon clouding over somewhat.
An increasing sense of calmness on the Meadow due to ever decreasing duck numbers though there are still reasonable numbers of wigeon, teal and shoveler with some of the latter doing a head bobbing display this morning. The single drake PINTAIL and a few gadwall are still about. On the wader front there were 10 REDSHANK though the ruff appears to have departed (see later though). There were 4 LITTLE RINGED PLOVER and one RINGED PLOVER this morning. About 25 SAND MARTINS went over, the largest flock we've had so far this year, accompanied by a couple of SWALLOWS. A flock of about 25 linnets flew over and there were singing chiffchaff and skylarks to be heard this morning.
From OXB (SHG):
"But the highlight was a big bird of prey which passed over with a crow in attendance, heading quite rapidly north at around 9.10, and which scared the living daylights out of all the ducks: an OSPREY, my first on the Meadow, and I think a juvenile. It didn't seem interested in stopping, although I thought it banked as though changing direction as it headed out of sight; possibly just following the line of the river. Might be worth keeping an eye open for it later, but I suspect it was just passing through"
Lunch-time update:
At least one HOUSE MARTIN in quite a large martin passage and the RUFF seems to be back.
A little ringed plover - always a delight to see on the Meadow © Steve Burch
An increasing sense of calmness on the Meadow due to ever decreasing duck numbers though there are still reasonable numbers of wigeon, teal and shoveler with some of the latter doing a head bobbing display this morning. The single drake PINTAIL and a few gadwall are still about. On the wader front there were 10 REDSHANK though the ruff appears to have departed (see later though). There were 4 LITTLE RINGED PLOVER and one RINGED PLOVER this morning. About 25 SAND MARTINS went over, the largest flock we've had so far this year, accompanied by a couple of SWALLOWS. A flock of about 25 linnets flew over and there were singing chiffchaff and skylarks to be heard this morning.
From OXB (SHG):
"But the highlight was a big bird of prey which passed over with a crow in attendance, heading quite rapidly north at around 9.10, and which scared the living daylights out of all the ducks: an OSPREY, my first on the Meadow, and I think a juvenile. It didn't seem interested in stopping, although I thought it banked as though changing direction as it headed out of sight; possibly just following the line of the river. Might be worth keeping an eye open for it later, but I suspect it was just passing through"
Lunch-time update:
At least one HOUSE MARTIN in quite a large martin passage and the RUFF seems to be back.
A little ringed plover - always a delight to see on the Meadow © Steve Burch