4 May 16

Cleveland Lakes Nature Reserve
Location

I had a foggy walk around Waterhay\Cleveland Lakes this morning.

First Nightingale, Garden Warbler & Reed Warbler of the year were highlights.

Also seen: 3 Cuckoo, Grey Heron, Cormorant, 7 Common Tern, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Sedge Warbler, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Whitethroat, Cetti's Warbler, Reed Bunting, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Robin, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Dunnock, Wren, Starling, Wood Pigeon, Carrion Crow, Rook, Jackdaw, Shelduck, Coot, Moorhen, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Great Crested Grebe, Canada Goose and Mute Swan.

Also: 2 Roe Deer.

(Nigel Sluman)

Sadly I also had an encounter with a male Blackcap as it flew into my windscreen. Was nice to be able to hold it for a minute before it died, wish it was under better circumstances! (Nigel Sluman)

Mouldon Hill CP
Location

A long walk around the park which took in the canal, River Ray and the pool. Main highlights were 4 Lesser Whitethroat, a Kingfisher, watching Starlings taking food into their nests in the telegraph poles and 3 Swallows taking flies/drinking from the pool. Everywhere you walked there were Willow Warblers, Blackcaps, Common Whitethroat and Sedge Warblers singing.

Other birds recorded were: Great Crested Grebe, Mute Swan, Mallard, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, Moorhen, Coot, Black-headed Gull, 1 Herring Gull, Stock Dove, Wood Pigeon, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 4 Song Thrush, 1 Reed Warbler, 15+ Sedge Warbler, 2 Garden Warbler, 20+ Common Whitethroat, 20+ Blackcap, 10+ Chiffchaff, 15+ Willow Warbler, 4 Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Rook, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, 12+ Starling, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Greenfinch and 2 Reed Bunting.

Also seen: A male and female Orange-tip, female Brimstone and 3 Peacock butterflies. Also a lot of St. Mark's flies (Bibio marci) on the wing.

The River Ray running through the Country Park (Martin Adlam)

Common Buzzard (Martin Adlam)

Common Buzzard (Martin Adlam)

Sedge Warbler (Martin Adlam)

Sedge Warbler (Martin Adlam)

Chiffchaff (Martin Adlam)

Common Whitethroat (Martin Adlam)

Goldfinch (Martin Adlam)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Other Counties News

Here

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wildlife Stories

If you have any wildlife stories, then why not send them in to the Swindon Birds and Wildlife Blog. It could be about Slow Worms in your garden, Badgers raiding dustbins or about someone you know who rescues injured animals and birds. Whatever your story we would love to hear about it.

You can use the comments form on this page or send us an email to swindon_birds_and_wildlife@live.co.uk

Posted in: Wildlife Photography