28th April 2009

1200 - 1310:

A bit wet and colder, but a few migrants about nonetheless:

Egyptian Goose - 1 on the trout lake.
Greylag Goose - 2 with four fledglings on the trout lake.
Coot - Now only 4 on the trout lake.
Linnet - Only 2 around the farmland.
Lesser Whitethroat - 1 again singing at the top of the school fields.
Blackcap - 4 heard.
Chiffchaff - Only 1 singing.
Willow Warbler - 2 singing.

Total Species Today - 36
Year list remains.
Patch List remains at 81.

22nd April 2009

1020 - 1130:

Some new arrivals and signs of migration:

Canada Goose - 14 on the trout lake.
Grelyag Goose - 1 on the trout lake.
Egyptian Goose - 1 still on the trout lake.
Coot - Only 4 on the trout lake.
Chiffchaff - 5.
Willow Warbler - 4.
Whitethroat - 1. 1st of 2009 along the warbler hedge.
Lesser Whitethroat - 1. 1st of 2009 in the top corner of the school field.
Blackcap - 8+.
Kestrel - 2 over the far field.
Sparrowhawk - 1 female near the end of George Lane by the woods.

Total species today - 38.
Total species for 2009 - 67.
Patch list stands at 81.

Some butterflies about now as well:

Orange Tip
Large White
Peacock
Speckled Wood
Comma

16th April 2009

0850 - 0950:

Linnet - 3 only.
Cormorant - 1 flew over.
Canada Goose - 2 on trout lake.
Greylag Goose - 1 on trout lake.
Egyptian Goose - 1 on trout lake.
Coot - 6 on trout lake.
Jay - 4 (possibly migrants given the number together)...
Willow Warbler - 2.
Chiffchaff - 5.
Blackcap - 7.

Total species today - 36.
Total species for 2009 - 63.
Patch list stands at 81.

15th April 2009

An evening walk started off rather disappointing but yielded some nice birds in the end:

Linnet - 25+ around the farm fields.
Coot - 6 on the trout lake.
Canada Goose - 4 in total.
Great-spotted Woodpecker - 3.
Green Woodpecker - 3.
Lesser Black-backed Gull - 1 flew over.
Chiffchaff - 4 singing.
Blackcap - 3 singing.
Willow Warbler - 2 singing.
Little Owl - 2 in the oaks near to the warbler hedge.

Total species today - 36.
Total species for 2009 - 63.
Patch list stands at 81.

12th April 2009

An early morning walk to look for migrants:

Greylag Goose - 3 on fields North of the Trout Lake.
Coot - 6 on the trout lake.
Willow Warbler - 3 singing around the area.
Chiffchaff - Only 4 singing.
Blackcap - 4 heard singing and a pair seen.
Bullfinch - 4 seen, two pairs.
Lesser-spotted Woodpecker - One in the warbler hedge trees. Another first for the patch!!!

Total species today - 29
Total species for 2009 - 61
Patch List now - 81.

11th April 2009

More low cloud and rain, perhaps keeping a few migrants lingering, but not really bringing much through:

Stock Dove - 1 feeding in horses paddocks.
Linnet - 20 around the ploughed fields close to the farm.
Grey Heron - 1 flew over.
Swallow - 4 feeding around the horse paddocks and trout lake.
Coot - 5 on the trout lake.
Egyptian Goose - 1 returned to the trout lake with 1 Greylag
Chiffchaff - At least 6 singing.
Willow Warbler - At lest 3 singing from different areas of woodland.
Bullfinch - 1 male seen.
Great-spotted Woodpecker - at least 5 about.

Total species today - 37.
Total species for 2009 - 60.
Patch List stands at - 80.

10th April 2009

Although a bit wet, I hoped the bad weather may have grounded a few migrants and there were a few about:

Cormorant - 1 flew over the farm, possibly disturbed from the lake by fishermen.
Swallow - 2 separate individuals moving through.
Chiffchaff - At least 2 singing in the woods.
Blackcap - A pair present at the end of George Lane behind the new houses.
Redpoll - Two present along the warbler hedge - the first since 2005!

Total species today - 32.
Total species for 2009 - 58.
Patch List stands at - 80.

8th April 2009

Well spring has now arrived in Hayes:

Swallow - 1 over the farm area. First of the year.
Chiffchaff - At least three heard singing across the patch.
Blackcap - 1 male seen and heard singing along the warbler hedgerow. 1st of the year.
Willow Warbler - 1 seen and heard singing. A first for the patch!!!
Coot - 5.
Canada Goose - 5.
Green Woodpecker - 2 pairs seen feeding.
Jackdaw - A pair seen near the farm with nest building material in beaks...

Year list for the patch - 56.
Total Patch list - 80

2nd April 2009

Have been out and about over the past few days.

31st March - Pett Levels, East Sussex. Merlin, Marsh Harrier, Little Gull, Common Scoter and more common species.

1st April - Bradwell/Dengie Coast in Essex. Marsh Harrier, Corn Bunting, Dunlin, Redshank and my 1st Swallows of the year. Also two Grey Partridge just outside the area in field on the way home.

2nd April - New Hythe GP's. Cetti's Warbler, Chiffchaff, Greylags and other common species.

Anyway, I went for a jog this evening around the patch and din't really note any birds, but did see Comma and Peacock butterflies.