The month of May started well, with a visit on the 2nd, to Swallowfield, Berkshire where a WHITE STORK had been reported. After parking the car nearby, I walked the short distance to the end of a lane, over a stile and across a field, where other birders had gathered. The stork was about 350 yards away, on the far bank of the river Loddon, a lovely bird which unfortunately, was too far off for a decent photo, but I managed a record shot. As I left, about thirty minutes later, the bird took off, spirally steadily upwards, until it had reached a good height, where it then headed south and out of sight.
A DUNLIN stayed at Moor Green Lakes for a few days, which appeared to have an injured leg, as it continually hopped about on the other one. At the same time a WHINCHAT stayed near the area of the feeding station and gave very good views.
Two years ago, the BLACK-HEADED GULL and COMMON TERN colony at Moor Green, was attacked overnight by an unknown predator, which killed all of the chicks. Last year, only one pair of Gulls and Tern bred and these birds nested on the newly aquired tern rafts. This year, the gulls and terns have returned in strength and chicks are beginning to hatch. Also this year, a pair of OYSTERCATCHERS have nested there, with two chicks recently hatched. This is the first time that they have bred there.
HOBBY has been seen visiting the reserve, for the last few weeks, with one or two perching up for awhile, but most were just passing through.
On the 21st, I visited some private land near Basingstoke, Hampshire, where I saw a pair of STONE CURLEWS. Fantastic but strange looking birds, their plumage blending in beautifuuly with the bare stony ground that they prefer. Also seen were three RAVENS flying nearby and a singing male YELLOWHAMMER.
From there it was off to Swallowfield church, in the hope of seeing the SPOTTED FLYCATCHER. It wasn't long after getting there that it appeared in a tall tree nearby, giving good views of itself whilst flitting about catching flies.
A DUNLIN stayed at Moor Green Lakes for a few days, which appeared to have an injured leg, as it continually hopped about on the other one. At the same time a WHINCHAT stayed near the area of the feeding station and gave very good views.
Two years ago, the BLACK-HEADED GULL and COMMON TERN colony at Moor Green, was attacked overnight by an unknown predator, which killed all of the chicks. Last year, only one pair of Gulls and Tern bred and these birds nested on the newly aquired tern rafts. This year, the gulls and terns have returned in strength and chicks are beginning to hatch. Also this year, a pair of OYSTERCATCHERS have nested there, with two chicks recently hatched. This is the first time that they have bred there.
HOBBY has been seen visiting the reserve, for the last few weeks, with one or two perching up for awhile, but most were just passing through.
On the 21st, I visited some private land near Basingstoke, Hampshire, where I saw a pair of STONE CURLEWS. Fantastic but strange looking birds, their plumage blending in beautifuuly with the bare stony ground that they prefer. Also seen were three RAVENS flying nearby and a singing male YELLOWHAMMER.
From there it was off to Swallowfield church, in the hope of seeing the SPOTTED FLYCATCHER. It wasn't long after getting there that it appeared in a tall tree nearby, giving good views of itself whilst flitting about catching flies.
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