Blue Skies, Red Kites, Insects and Sparrows!

Well the weather has taken a turn for the better.  Lots of lovely unbroken sunshine over the last week, and although it might still be cold at times, the warmth from the sun is very much appreciated.  And not just by me but by the natural world too.

Birds song has increased in volume and variety in the last few weeks, and some of the expected species are carrying nesting material around now. Our heather has been absolutely rammed with bees during the warmest hours of the day, and on the butterfly front I have seen three Red Admiral and most unexpectedly, a Small White!  I've never even seen a March Small White before, so one on 28th February in our front garden was noteworthy...

Orange-tip and Green-veined usually come before Small White!

 

On the bird front I will start in the garden and the male Blackcap is still here, although presumably not for much longer.  House Sparrows have done the right thing and since my last excitable post am seeing up to ten in the garden regularly, which I am absolutely chuffed about! 

Same bird as it has a grey fleck above and behind its left eye

They seem happy with the available bush cover

In the river valley, Lapwing and Wigeon numbers have plummeted, although I did count my winter high of Curlew in the last week of February, with 74 on Bridge Marsh.  Gull numbers have also dropped since the turn in the weather, but on the final day of the worst weather (24th) this Kittiwake was taking shelter on the lower Estuary...

Riding the waves of the Axe

 

Although Red Kites have completely changed in status here, winter records remain scarce.  So during a sky scanning vigil from my garden on 28th, I was really surprised to pick up a single spiral of five Red Kites over Stedcombe Vale, which is about two miles to the east.  As I was sending a message out I lost four of them, and could only see a single bird flying north up the river valley. However about ten minute's later the four were right over the garden, flying west low and slow. 

I didn't have my camera to hand, however Tim C wasn't too far away and soon watched them drift over his garden.  I did point my phone camera at one of them but managed nothing better than this...

Exciting to see this mini flock clearly on the move - just as they do later in the spring during spells of sunny weather

 

I have not seen any Wheatears or Sand Martins yet, although a singing Chiffchaff on 3rd was not in a place I would have expected a wintering bird to be, so likely a migrant.   

As always, thanks for reading!