The breeding season at Holmethorpe Sand Pits is now in full
swing with birds singing their hearts out to attract a mate or to define an
already held territory. Mallard chicks are one of the first to appear on lakes.
Some tit species have recently fledged leaving the possibility of a second
brood. Coot chicks and goslings from Egyptian, Canada and Greylag Geese are
also present.
The cloud was low with spats of mizzle to keep the
hirundines low. House Martin numbers were in the mid teens around Water Colours
early this morning. Sand Martin numbers grew to 27 as the rain set in over
Spynes Mere. Swift and Swallow were also present with fewer individuals. A
Hobby was also taking advantage of the early morning feast hawking and eating a
dragonfly over Mercers West.
A Willow Warbler was in full song near the mound to Water
Colours. It remained in the same spot piping out its melodic song to all
around.
Yellowhammer is resident on the area of Mercers Farm where
the vegetation has grown considerably between Mercers Lake and Mercers West. I regularly
hear this species when I visit but don’t always get the opportunity to
photograph birds.
A Reed Bunting was determined to make itself heard over the
Cetti’s Warbler that was in good voice this morning. I watched the skies for a
few hours at Spynes Mere through lunch time but there was no other raptor
activity in the area.
I logged 56 species with Hobby, Kestrel, Willow Warbler, and
Yellowhammer new additions from my last visit.
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