End of 1st quarter at Longham

Dropped in to Longham Lakes on the way home from work this afternoon, and what a sight I had with a spectacular aerial display of c200 Swifts with some House Martin, Sand Martin and Swallows in the mix. The birds were at all heights from just above my head to very high swooping this and that way while hawking for insects.

In a 2 hour and 20 minute walk around the South Lake I managed to record 41 species, with four new birds for my Patch Work Challenge which stands now at the end of the month with 75 species seen and a point score of 79. One of the new birds I have been trying to spot for a long time and after almost two years I finally found the little bird a Treecreeper in an oak I expected to find him one day.

The highlights of the walk were

Swift c200

House Martin

Sand Martin

Swallow

Whitethroat – 4

Reed Warbler -1 with others heard

Treecreeper -1

Mandarin Duck – 1 male preening on a willow branch off the small island before taking a swim across the lake.

Shelduck – 2 flying in from the east and settled on the water, west side of the large lake.

Cetti’s Warbler -1 7

Grey Heron

The Highlights off the Quarter

So the the highlights of the first quarter at Longham Lakes, I have really enjoyed walking round the complex looking for the birds. I have found doing the Patch Work Challenge as made me focus on trying to find new birds on very trip to the lakes, though I have missed some that I should of made the effort to get these were Wheatear and Yellow Wagtail. I have ticked off new species for the lakes this year these being Black-tailed Godwits, Snipe, Mandarin Duck, Collard Dove, Pheasant, Siskin, Lesser Redpoll, Sparrowhawk, Shelduck and the elusive Treecreeper.

Black- tailed Godwits

Record shot of male Mandarin Duck

Treecreeper