Spring Pictures

 Well after the other half of Aquila's doubtful insinuations mentioned within their last blog post, I thought I better pull my finger out and provide some proof, see below for some truly stereo-typically "spring" images, click on any of the images to enlarge.

Early Purple Orchid

Small Tortoiseshell 

Fallow Deer

Hare

Linnet

Swallow

Whitethroat

Comma

House Martin

Sedge Warbler

Yellow Wagtail

Yellow wagtail

I'm working down in the South East this week and spring/summer is already well into the swing of things with plenty of migration and breeding based activity being observed. Key migrants have included - Nightingale, Lesser Whitethroat, Grasshopper Warbler, Cuckoo, Garden Warbler, Willow Warbler, Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler, Yellow Wagtail and Ring Ousel. Please keep your eyes peeled on the blog as next week Aquila will be visiting the Scottish Highlands for their 5th annual tour. For further information on set or bespoke tours throught the UK and Europe, please visit www.aquilabirdtours.com.

Sandbach Flashes Cheshire

Just a quick blog to keep all our followers looking !  We are busy with survey right now but still try to grab a few hours local birding when we can.  Spring has now finally arrived and reports of migrants arrive daily in our inbox.  Not everyone is so sure though, as you can by the pic of the Coot at Sandbach Flashes a few days ago, who is playing it safe and building her nest well out of the danger !

Blackcap, Bullfinch, Chiffchaff, Black-tailed Godwit and my first Swallow of the year were all nice to see along with a surprise Iceland Gull.   A Cheshire Lifer for me (Mark Powell) outdid them all, an Egyptian Goose, which has been strutting around the flashes for several days. 

Local Rewards - Mark Powell

I spent a very pleasant couple of hours in Spring like conditions at Sandbach Flashes (local to me). Arrived around midday and added a couple of Flashes year ticks.  On the way home I decided to take a look around Doddington Lake and make the most of the nice weather.  Stopping at one of the viewing areas I set my scope up and at first all seemed pretty quiet.  A quick scan amongst the Canada Geese showed up five Pink-footed Geese and a Ruddy Shelduck, a nice way to round off the afternoon. 

 Fieldfare

Pink-footed Geese amongst the Canadas