Last night's Alpine Swift had clearly roosted locally as, despite my not seeing it at dawn, it was located over the lakes from 8am. I managed to slip out for a couple of minutes to view from the garden and, after a few minutes wait, the bird was seen over the far side of the lake - heading towards me at 50'.
Stunned to find an enormous Alpine Swift flying around the houses when I arrived home this evening. At 18:15 it was powering at car height between the buildings - bloody brilliant stuff!
The last two pictures clearly show the bird trailing something caught in its feet...
Visited Stodmarsh this morning in the hope of seeing Water Pipits... After slipping and sliding my was to Marsh Hide, news came through of an Alpine Swift over the Lampen Wall. - I'd passed the very same spot 15 minutes earlier, yet had been searching for Cetti's Warblers. I probably had the f******g swift over my head if I'd looked up!
The Ring-necked Duck was distant for photography - Dunnock, Shoveler, Marsh Harrier, Great Tit and Robin were all slightly more obliging...
Beavers and bees both busy...
A brief walk around work this afternoon highlighted that spring is well and truly springing...
Little Egret is nice following the finding of an injured bird that had to be euthanised by the local vet. Stocks Doves and Long-tailed Tits are getting on with it and clearly Mallard have been getting on with it for some time...
Whilst visiting the Dover Glaucous Gull a small group (not really a whole flock) of Rock Pipits were watched feeding on the grass of a road island at the port - a strange habitat...
Did a quick pre-work visit to Dover this morning to catch up with the adult Glaucous Gull showing on Shakespeare Beach.
A nice sunny afternoon visit with both son and camera to Elmley NNR... Still lots of waders and duck in evidence - more Oystercatchers, Redshank and Dunlin on the marshes than previous visits this winter. Interesting to watch the Lapwing courtship on the deck - in addition to the more vocal display/courtship flights they undertake.
