Birds, Bees and Butterflies

A leisurely walk around Liden Lagoon was very rewarding with my first Willow Warbler of the year competing with 3 Chiffchaffs singing away on the islands.

The Daffodils are still going strong

The path between the A419 and Liden Lagoon

As the sun came out so did several butterflies with 3 Small Tortoiseshells, a Brimstone and 2 Peacocks. One of the Peacocks was on a Dandelion flower and the other feeding on Blackthorn.

Small Tortoiseshell

A Peacock on a Dandelion

A Peacock on a Blackthorn

Great colours

Around the Lagoon were Chaffinch, Blackbirds, Wrens and Dunnocks singing away. Whilst overhead a Meadow Pipit headed east as did a solitary Redwing. On the water the Great Crested Grebes are still sitting on their nest and the pair of Gadwall I'm pleased to say, are still present. The drake is very bold now and was seen right up close to the boulders dabbling away. Every now and then he would paddle back to the duck and give her a quick peck on the tail, before heading back to the shallow water close to the bank.

A drake Gadwall

He's quite bold coming in close to the bank

The duck however preferred to stay further out

Gadwall Video

Also about were a pair of Lesser Black-backed Gulls that were joined by a pair of Herring Gulls. Watching them was quite bizarre as the Herring Gulls didn't seem to want the Black-backs on the water and swam between them to split them up. Obviously not wanting to upset the Herring Gulls the Black-backs flew off.

A pair of Herring Gulls bisect a pair of Lesser Black-backed Gulls

 The Canada Geese were all paired up again, with the majority of them by the path, though it was quite obvious they were in pairs. Strange as this might sound but I don't recall seeing the Mute Swans. I'm sure they were present, but I know I didn't see them.

Other highlights were a pair of Goldcrests calling, a Bullfinch on the bottom island, a pair of Long-tailed Tits in the wood alongside the A419 and a Great Spotted Woodpecker calling from the same area. A Blue Tit landed on a branch above me, appeared to be blind in one eye.

A Blue Tit.

Dunnock

Possibly syritta pipiens

Bird Species recorded: Pair of Great Crested Grebe, Mute Swan Not Seen!, 26 Canada Goose, Mallard, Pair of Gadwall, 11 Moorhen, 8 Coot, 2 Herring Gull, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, 2 Collared Dove, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker heard, 1 Meadow Pipit, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 1 Redwing overhead, 3 singing Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler singing, 2 Goldcrest, 2 Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, 2 Magpie, Rook, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, House Sparrow, Chaffinch and a Bullfinch.

Insects: 3 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Brimstone, 2 Peacocks, a Drone Fly, several Bumblebees sp., and a Hoverfly sp.