Hoopoe singing in the rain?

On Thursday 14th May, at 6.39am the ever dependable Andrew E. posted that the Hoopoe was singing from the rooftops but it was cheucking down with rain where we were barely a mile away! When the rain stopped not long afterwards I drove over 7.40- 8.05am, as I walked down Mutford Drive I could hear the Hoopoe singing 'hoopoo-poo...hoopo-poo' but I couldn't see it so I walked to the end of Lakeland Drive, no sign there either, walking back to Mutford Drive just before 8am I heard it again calling just west of the end of Mutford Drive. I scanned across and on the aerial I immediately saw the fantastic Hoopoe perched on an aerial, it later flew onto the roof, perched here for a minute or so before a movement in the garden of the end house it flew east and out of sight. Later, on as I arrived home from work a House Martin was flying low over our front garden.

Evening Dip

A return to Mutford Close 6.20opm, typically the bird had been sighted 10 minutes after I had left, I saw Andrew E. and Rob Wil. who had seen the Hoopoe 5X in flight up to 6.10pm, (I was back there at 6.15pm) during a brief sunny spell, the bird had been recently calling but typically it had stopped calling and didn't show in the sunny spell that lasted all of 10 minutes before black cloud again rolled in again with rain, Rob H. and James W. arrived and I left again at 6.50pm. Before I left I did see a Great- spotted Woodpecker fly onto a feeder but then it flew off again.

Spring dipping sequence continues

On 13th May, rather appropriately, my annual spring dipping sequence is now reaching epic proportions, just after 3.50pm I arrived at Lakeland Drive/ Mutford Close, I initially saw Rob Wil. and Nick, no sign in 2 hours (Carl B. & others joined us) looking (left at 5.50pm)and was drenched twice having to endure worsening conditions with squally showers. A Marsh Harrier flew overhead and north-east.

Hoopoe no show

On Monday 11th May, a look directly after work for a Hoopoe along Lakeland Drive and nearby Normanston Park proved fruitless as there was no sign and an early rain shower made my mind up and I left!

Missed the RFF again!

I have missed a lot of birds this spring and the Carlton Marshes RFF is no exception, despite being there, 9.30- 2.15pm, this was the first time the RFF wasn't seen during the 10-2pm period seen it first arrived. Around 20+ Hobbies flew over Peto's catching dragonflies and other insects. as I walked up to the Moorings hide, a Greenshank flew west over the river, calling as it went and appearing to settle on the western end of Peto's. A Painted Lady was also feeding on the clump of yellow flowers by the path. Bitterns were also seen in flight twice, one landing in reeds fairly close to us. 5 marsh harriers and 5 Buzzards seen too. Matthew D. joined us and when we left we saw first a male and the another Wall Brown in flight. The male was seen perched several times. Walking back 5 Sand Martins flew over the track.

A fine summer plumaged Knot

On Friday 8th May, immediately after work, a fine summer plumaged Knot was seen on the jetty/ finger at Ness Point in full brick reddish-brown summer plumage. Initially, it was right at the far end of the finger, in company with 2 Turnstone, 1 in full breeding plumage. but all 3 birds gradually worked there way closer being half way along, feeding all the time, it seemed they would come even close but before unfortunately, a Feral Pigeon flew in and spooked them causing them to fly back to the end of the finger again. Also up to 15 Kittiwake seen flying south, several close in.

First House Martin & evening dips

On Thursday 7th May retrieving my optical gear to go for the Bee-eaters, immediately after work, I saw a fine House Martin fly over the back garden, my first of the year, a frustrating evening followed with dipping all around (no Bee-eaters, BW Kite or RFF).