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~ a celebration of nature

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Tag Archives: spring migration

A line-up of Wheatears

30 Thursday Mar 2023

Posted by sconzani in birds

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birding, birdwatching, British birds, spring migration, Wheatear

Another birder reported seeing two Wheatears in this particular field so I went for a look. And lo and behold, there weren’t just two Wheatears but three, happily lined up along the fenceposts (when they weren’t flitting down into the grass on either side, grabbing any insects they spotted).

230330 wheatears (1)

And then, blow me down, I spotted a fourth bird lurking on top of the bushes in the background – only a blurry photo of that one, so here’s the line-up again from a different angle, from when they flitted up to the top of the field. Birding magic!

230330 wheatears (2)

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First winter Little gull

24 Friday Mar 2023

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birding, birdwatching, British birds, Cardiff Bay birding, Little gull, spring migration

These photos are hot off the memory card, as we’ve had a lovely visitor in Cardiff Bay today, this beautiful first winter Little gull. The gull’s presence is not a huge surprise to local birders, as this is the time of year we often see one in the Bay. As the BTO website reports ‘This dainty gull is most often seen during its northward spring migration, when small parties can turn up along the coast or even at inland waters.’

230324 little gull (1)

Little gulls are incredibly active birds: while the Black-headed gulls were happy to bob about on the water, pecking at titbits as they floated past, the Little gull was almost constantly in flight, skilfully weaving and diving despite the strong winds, dipping down to the water’s surface when it spotted something to eat. It was magical to watch, though the other gulls weren’t as happy to see this stranger as we birders were!

230324 little gull (2)

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There’s a Chiffchaff in my tree

22 Wednesday Mar 2023

Posted by sconzani in birds, spring

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birding, birdwatching, British birds, Chiffchaff, spring migration

There’s a Chiffchaff in my tree, chiffchaffing happily!

230322 chiffchaff (1)

That was my tweet this morning after I’d spent a joyous 20 minutes standing by the open window, watching this little bird flit about the cherry tree outside my living room, catching tiny insects and singing almost the entire time.

230322 chiffchaff (2)

Although some Chiffchaffs now overwinter in the warmer parts of Britain, most still migrate, and they began arriving back in my area in good number last Friday. After this morning’s home-based Chffichaff encounter, I went for a walk around Cosmeston Lakes Country Park, during which I heard and/or saw at least 23 more Chiffchaffs. Their song will soon become one of the commonplace sounds of spring/summer but, for now, it’s pure magic!

230322 chiffchaff (3)

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First Blackcap

20 Monday Mar 2023

Posted by sconzani in birds, spring

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bird migration, birding, birdwatching, Blackcap, British birds, spring migration

I heard him before I saw him – in fact, it took a while to spot this little chap, who was mostly hidden amongst the greenery as he sang his little tune. Was he celebrating the fact that he’d finally arrived on land after his long migration flight? Or was he practising his melody in preparation for trying to woo a potential mate? Though some Blackcaps now over-winter here, they are mostly to be found feeding in people’s gardens, taking advantage of the goodies on offer from feeders. This little fellow was by the sea, with no houses or gardens nearby, which is why I’m fairly sure he was a newly arrived migrant. And he was my first Blackcap of the year. I look forward to seeing more.

230320 first blackcap

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Farewell to the winter thrushes

06 Monday Mar 2023

Posted by sconzani in birds

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birding, birdwatching, British birds, Fieldfare, Redwing, spring migration

It’s now been over a week since I’ve seen any of the dazzling thrushes that brighten the local trees and fields during the darkest months of winter so I assume they are on their way back to their breeding rounds in Scandinavia. Farewell, and safe journey, to all the beautiful Redwings and Fieldfares. I’m already looking forward to seeing you again later in the year.

230306 winter thrushes

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First Whitethroats

14 Thursday Apr 2022

Posted by sconzani in birds, spring

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bird migration, British birds, Common whitethroat, spring migration, Sylvia communis, Whitethroat

I was watching a Moorhen feeding its five tiny chicks when I heard it, the unmistakeable scratchy song of a Whitethroat (Sylvia communis), my first for 2022. And then, forty minutes later, I was walking along a hillside when I heard it again – not the same bird, of course, but my second scratchy tune of the year. As I’m still without a reasonable camera, today’s photo shows a Whitethroat I encountered last year.

220414 whitethroat

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Osprey!

31 Thursday Mar 2022

Posted by sconzani in birds, spring

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bird migration, birding, birdwatching, British birds, Osprey, spring migration

I had a mystery bird during yesterday’s walk. It flew high over the west paddock at Cosmeston Country Park, heading north, in slow circles, mobbed by corvids and gulls. It was carrying something that seemed to have a snake-like shape, long and thin and dangling from its claws. Looking through binoculars, my impression of the bird was that it had dark grey/brown wings, a very pale, possibly white body, and a small pale head.

I had an idea what it might be but had never seen that species before so took as many photos as I could with my point-and-shoot camera (the telephoto lens on my DSLR camera has died and I can’t afford to replace it at the moment – what a time not to have a good lens!). Fortunately, local expert birders and our county bird recorder were able to confirm, from my description and the photos, that I had seen my first Osprey, migrating north to its breeding site after over-wintering in Africa. Welcome home, you beauty!

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The ju-jitsu bird

29 Tuesday Mar 2022

Posted by sconzani in birds

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birding, birdwatching, British birds, Chiffchaff, Chiffchaff call, spring migration

I know everyone thinks the Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita) calls its own name ‘chiff chaff, chiff chaff’ or, sometimes, ‘chaff chiff, chaff chiff’. I beg to differ. A lot of the birds I listen to are actually saying ‘did you? did you? you, you, did you?’ and some of them are even in to martial arts, calling ‘ju-jitsu, ju-jitsu, you, ju-jitsu’. Listen closely next time you hear one and let me know what you think they’re saying.

220329 chiffchaff

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First Spring Wheatear

12 Saturday Mar 2022

Posted by sconzani in birds, spring

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birding, birdwatching, British birds, Cosmeston Lakes Country Park, spring migration, Wheatear

I was just about to head home from Cosmeston when I got word there was a Wheatear in the southern end of the west paddock – I was at the northern end. Back I stomped and splashed – it’s exceedingly muddy there after all the recent rain – and enjoyed close views of this very handsome bird, as well as a lovely catch up with a female birding friend. I’ve since seen reports of Wheatears in other locations today – Spring migration has begun!

220312 wheatear

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Dunlin in the Bay

13 Thursday May 2021

Posted by sconzani in birds, spring

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bird migration, birding, birdwatching, British birds, Cardiff Bay birding, Cardiff Bay birds, Dunlin, spring migration

Though I live near the sea, I don’t get to see Dunlin very often as the coastline near me is mostly cliffs and rocks, not the stretches of mud or sand these little waders can easily feed on.

210512 dunlin (1)

So, it was a real treat during Monday’s walk around Cardiff Bay to see this single Dunlin foraging on the edge of the Barrage.

210512 dunlin (2)

Flocks of Dunlin, and other waders, pass along our shoreline at this time of year on their way to their breeding grounds and, very occasionally, drop in briefly to feed, as this one was. And to have a good scratch …

210512 dunlin (3)

After taking several photos, I left the bird in peace to forage further, grateful for the birding treat!

210512 dunlin (4)

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About me

sconzani

sconzani

I'm a writer and photographer; researcher and blogger; birder and nature lover; countryside rambler and city strider; volunteer and biodiversity recorder.

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Recent blog posts

  • Changing colours April 1, 2023
  • Cucumber green orb spider March 31, 2023
  • A line-up of Wheatears March 30, 2023
  • Nomad bees March 29, 2023
  • Tadpoles March 28, 2023

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