Spring in The Brecks

18th April 2024

Now into the second half of April so time to go and see the spring arrivals in The Brecks. It was great to hear so much bird song and see my first Orange-tip butterfly of the year.

As for most sites this year the Chiffchaffs were out in force, and they particularly like the new plantations.

Managed to grab this one just before it flew off.

And now for some of the Brecks specialities. The Tree Pipits were back in force although are tricky to photograph as they normally announce their presence from the top of a tree.....................

....................although do sometimes come down a bit lower.

The Wood Larks were also in full voice and were in song flight high above. Just a matter of seeing where they land, where they often continue to sing.

But then everyone's favourite, the Crossbills. There was a flock of about 10 birds feeding high in the pines on the cone seeds. These seeds are very dry and therefore the birds have to come down regularly to drink. Luckily under the pines was a muddy puddle, so it just a matter of choosing the right angle and waiting.

Crossbills are very early breeders and therefore possible to see the stripey younsters in April.

The females are a more uniform green.

But the males are an amazing red or orangey-red. This male was keeping look-out over the flock while they were going down to drink....................

.......................and then having his turn.

Many of the birds were orangey-red with a hint of green and I suspect these were second calendar (2CY) year males.

What a fantastic day and I look forward to visiting The Brecks at this time of year every year.

A Second Day with the Nightingales at Fingringhoe Wick

12th April 2024

Photographing Nightingales is addictive so after a successful mission on the 7th April, time for another visit. I set up at a likely spot with a sandwich in one hand and a cup of tea in the other and waited. And while you are waiting for the main event there is always the possibility that you will be serenaded by a male Blackcap.

It didn't take long for the bird to start singing and with a bit of scanning I found it as it moved through the branches.

They will behave like this for the first couple of weeks after their arrival, and then sing lower down in cover when all the trees and bushes are in leaf.

The Yellow Wagtails Have Arrived

7th April 2024

After a most successful morning at Fingringhoe Wick with the Nightingales I moved on to Abberton to hopefully photograph my first Yellow Wagtails of the year. I started at the old road just in case the two Nightingales there were showing, but although one was singing somewhat intermittently it stayed deep in cover. Time therefore to have a quick look at the insects.

Just two butterflies on show, a Green-veined White and a Peacock, so it would appear that the Speckled Wood that had been on disply earlier in the day was having a rest.

Then I found an insect that had me totally baffled. A very weak flier with legs dangling it eventually made it across to the brambles.

Sitting on the brambles in the sun it showed itself to be a very attractive insect and larger than it appeared in flight. Apparently it is the Cuckoo Bee Nomada goodeniana of the Buffish Mining Bee Andrena nigroaenea. My thanks go to Simon Knott for the identification.

On the Layer de la Haye causeway there were a few winter ducks remaining like this male Pochard

There was also a pair of Goldeneye..................

......................and despite the best efforts of the male to display.............

......................the female remained asleep. Her one eye open is keeping an eye on me.

So finally on to Billets Farm, the Yellow Wagtail hotspot of Essex. There was a pair of Sky Larks in the famous sheep field, but they were totally outnumberd by the Yellow Wagtails, all males.

For whatever reason this field attracts good numbers of Yellow Wagtails every year during both spring and autumn migrations and I suspect it is because, due to the grazing of the sheep, the length of the grass is ideal. Today I counted 16 individuals, but the day after there were 30+.

Billetes Farm is definitely Yellow Wagtail City!!!!