The weather has certainly changed from my last blog, perhaps the summer visitors were right, in that the weather was going to change from the lovely sunny days that we had in March to the persistent rain, sometimes heavy, that we have had this past week or so.I know we need the rain and lots of it and lots we certainly have had. At least the wind has generally been in the right direction to bring in the birds. I have had a couple of soakings whilst at Moor Green Lakes but my equipment soon dries out in the airing cupboard, permission granted from my wife gained beforehand of course. Looking at my records for this time last year, it appears that birds such as SWALLOWS, HOUSE and SAND MARTINS and most of the Warblers have turned up at Moor Green at virtually the same time this year, the exception for me is SEDGE WARBLER. There was one reported recently, but as yet I have not managed to locate it. A YELLOW WAGTAIL turned up at Tern Island on the 19th, the first that I have seen here and it didn't stay long as it was not seen the following day. A WHIMBREL was seen last Sunday, but unfortunately I missed it. I saw the two WHIMBREL that visited the reserve last year on the 22nd April, exactly the same day that this years bird turned up, amazing. Last week at Moor Green again on the 19th, I saw a female MALLARD with ten newly hatched ducklings. The next day only nine ducklings were seen and whilst watching them I noticed that two had wandered away from the mother, unfortunately this was at the same time as a CARRION CROW was flying by, who instantly seized on the opportunity to grab one of the ducklings and fly off with it. I managed to get a photograph and I know it happens all the time, but it's still sad to see. I had another soaking this morning, (27th) still it was worth it, I saw my first of the year GARDEN WARBLER, singing at the top of its voice from a bramble bush, but I still need the SEDGE WARBLER to complete the set, another day perhaps, in the meantime its off home and back to the airing cupboard.
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