This morning was bright and dry apart from a 10 second shower of light rain. My walk route was the one I do most, along Southorpe Road past Weatherhill to the hide or Wassand wood without visiting the hide, then back along the south side footpath.
The pair of Lapwings that have braved the ploughing (see previous post) were up and seeing off crows.
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| Lapwing in action |
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| Lapwing |
I did visit the hide today as I was early and therefore it was quiet with nobody about, even though we are in the Easter holiday period.
The Willow Warbler and singing Blackcap found on Tuesday were still there in the wood, both singing away. I saw the Willow Warbler but no chance of a photo, but I had some luck with the Blackcap.
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| Singing Blackcap in Wassand wood |
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| As above |
I saw yet another Treecreeper today! Ever since I mentioned there didn't seem to be many of them about I have been tripping over them 😂😂
While photographing this one I saw it had a small twig in its beak. I couldn't see what it doing until I got the pics on my PC - it looks to be using the twig as a tool to winkle out insects from a crack in the bark. I'll research this as I've not heard of Treecreepers using tools before. Nuthatches apparently use flakes of bark in some way.
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| Treecreeper with twig |
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| Treecreeper putting the twig into a crack in the bark |
It didn't hang around afterwards and I didn't see the result of the twig poking. It flew to another tree, even closer to me which was great.
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| Same Treecreeper, different tree |
At the hide there were four Marsh Harriers affording reasonable views. No real courting action that I could see yet.
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| Male Marsh Harrier |
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| Cream crown Marsh Harrier, probably female |
On the water a single Pochard was still hanging on, possible left over from the wintering group we've had at the Mere.
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| A lonely Pochard |
On the track to Weatherhill before going into the fields I found my first Peacock butterfly of the year. It was very restless and was soon off and away.
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| Peacock butterfly taking off |
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| Peacock butterfly |
