An early morning walk on a section of the Strawberry Line at Congresbury on the 1st produced eight singing warbler species with Willow Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat being notable. Peter Grainger also logged Skylark and Bullfinch in a total of 34 species. Later a Red Kite was over Cadbury Hill. May 3rd was International Dawn Chorus day. A 45 minute post dawn visit to Wemberham Lane yielded 14 species singing . And my friend in Wick St Lawrence was delighted to report a singing Cuckoo which he not only heard but has seen.
A duty visit to our Kenn Moor Reserve on the 5th gave me a surprise in the form of a screeching Ring Necked Parakeet. A male Kestrel hunting over both fields was more welcome and a Hobby seemingly hawking insects high in the sky was a great sight. Half a dozen Swallows were feeding at lower level.
The Strawberry Line survey on the 7th was notable for a single Siskin, unusual on the line in Spring. We did record 51 warblers of five species and 107 birds singing overall. One Sparrowhawk was circling high and another zipped over the hedge in hunting mode. A walk around Congresbury Moor on the 11th produced several singing Whitethroats, they seem to be in record numbers locally this year. More surprising was a Kingfisher on New Rhyne. They are uncommon in late Spring.
Five Mistle Thrushes at Goblin Combe was an encouraging count on the 18th with two reports of Swifts over Yatton, maximum four birds, the same day. Ravens have fledged at least two young near Kingston Seymour and on the 22nd a Cuckoo was calling near Congresbury. Numbers of Great Spotted Woodpeckers have been increasing nationally for many years but sightings locally have diminished recently so it was good to have a picture of one visiting a members garden.
After a blank season last year a big increase in vole numbers has resulted in Barn Owls nesting in our area at the month end with Kestrels also feeding young, more details next month. A female Tawny Owl was calling from the Strawberry Line at Congresbury and one or two Spotted Flycatchers were seen on Cadbury Hill. Tawny Owlets were heard at Wemberham and one was seen at Cadbury Hill. Finally it is pleasing to report that three pairs of Stonechats were feeding young on or near to YACWAG Reserves at the month end.
Thanks to all contributors. Please continue to send sightings and photos to
[email protected],uk
Trevor
