Lockdown listing extended

So with the lockdown extended I've continued my local walks...still no car, no camera and no bins in line with intention of daily exercise only but I do have eyes and ears to the lists continue to grow. In the last few days I've added Coot, Mute Swan and today my first Whitethroat of the year so my second year tick in five weeks. Always great to hear these returning migrants in spring.

The garden continues to entertain with several sightings of Sprawk, Buzzard and Red Kite and I'm getting quite a detailed look at the comings and goings of all the breeding birds. Out of the ordinary I had a Greenfinch and a couple of Pied Wagtails in the garden today too.

On the butterfly front I've added Painted Lady, Red Admiral and Holly Blue to the year list today.
Onwards and upwards and stay safe guys.

Year list now 191
Lockdown list now 55

Lockdown makes you appreciate whats on the doorstep a little bit more

First year tick in over a month

I had several Swallows yesterday to add to the lockdown list and enjoyed a nice walk again this morning without adding anything new but later this morning whilst chatting to a neighbour from a good distance I noticed a hirundine heading towards me. Thinking it would be a Swallow I carried on chatting but as it neared I could see it was in fact a House Martin so my excitement got the better of me to my neighbours amusement. The bird was not only a lockdown tick but it was my first year tick in over a month of lockdown.

My year list nudged to 190
Lockdown list now 52

My early morning walk  today

Now that was unexpected.

I've been doing my daily walk each morning nice and early to get the legs stretched but I've not added any lockdown ticks for a few days now. I'm seeing more Blackcaps and hearing plenty of Chiffchaffs and probably seeing around thirty species a day with no new additions so it was a little surprising tonight as I stood in the kitchen preparing dinner and two Greylag Geese came flying from east to west low across the rooftops and although these are on my lockdown list and year list they weren't on my actual seen in or from the garden list and they are now! The first in thirty years!!

Year list still 189 AND NO ADDITIONS SINCE LOCKDOWN!
Lockdown list still 50
Garden list now 65

Forget me not

Walking the ditch this morning I found this tiny patch of Forget me not and found myself pausing for a moment at the meaning of those words. Very sad to think of all these families losing loved ones and my thoughts are with them all.

Forget me not

On the birding front I managed my 50th lockdown tick with a Coal Tit and saw a Kingfisher for the first time in a couple of days. It's all very unimportant but it's still good to take advantage of this short walk most days with the sounds perhaps more enjoyable than the sights right now.

Lockdown list now 50

couple of surprise ticks this morning

I haven't been out since Friday trying to keep public movement down over the Easter weekend but after an uncomfortable night with shoulder pain I woke early and decided to take a walk at first light.
I saw just a single dog walker over both legs of my journey and it was good to be out again even if it was only a short walk from home.

As I approached the motorway I was surprised to see four Greylags flying up and over towards the golf course and then as I turned the corner I heard the beautiful sound of a Skylark. It took a while to find it up the cloud but it was really good to connect with it and I really appreciated the encounter.

No Kingfisher again today but I did see five Buzzard, two Sparrowhawks and a Red Kite over the garden this afternoon which was pleasing too.

Lockdown list now 49

Smart cloud cover this morning

Ticking over

A brisk power walk this morning gave me another Lockdown Tick with a Kestrel hovering over the edge of the brown field. No Kingfishers today, in fact not much of anything as I powered my way around the fields apart from the Chiffchaffs calling along most of the route. I did get a Chaffinch in the garden today which although on the list hadn't until today been in the garden.

Lockdown list now 47

Forgive me digging out the old pics but they add a little colour to an otherwise bland post.

Two additions to the lockdown list

I took an early morning walk today, same route as usual down to the motorway and back but a bit earlier than usual with the benefit that I saw nobody else on the whole walk.

I picked up a lockdown tick when a Jay flew out in front of me at the railway bridge and then found the Kingfisher on exactly the same branch as yesterday. Six Stock Dove came next and lots of Chiffchaff. As I walked back I had a second encounter with a Jay before hearing Blackcap calling. I stood still for a while and sure enough a smart male Blackcap came out and burst into fall song at the top of a bush.

Back in the garden I had a fly over Little Egret and a very low Red Kite.

In additon to the birds I've had a Fox and a small unidentified bat in the garden and my lockdown butterfly count includes Peacock, Orange Tip, Small Tortoiseshell, Small and Large White, Comma and Brimstone and they give me a little added interest on the walk for as long as we're allowed a walk.

On another note I enjoyed the big moon last night with nice views of Venus too in the clear sky.

Lockdown list now 46

The big moon

A closer look

Not so pink and not so easy to get a shot of it as it was so bright

The Moon

One of todays Red Kites over the garden....not seen in thirty years living here but this year I'm seeing them every day.