© Saira Obaidullah
Never have I seen
The earth so green,
The bright, blue sky
Where birds doth fly.
Sweet violets,
And golden daisies,
Tossing their heads
And dancing in the breeze.
Towering trees with swaying tops
Whisper softly, “Won’t you stop?”
Gentle springs murmur by
As if singing a lullaby.
Possibly not appropriate today given the continuing sultry, thundery, grey and wet conditions. If only we could vote for better weather as part of the referendum! Too wet for the trap last night and probably so for the rest of the day preventing any 'wild-lifing'. After coffee and a bacon bap a short and drizzly walk produced a close and very visible singing Firecrest which looked wet and scruffy; three Med Gulls went south and two north. The umbellifers were much quieter than last week unsurprisingly and most insects looked fairly torpid, a single Leucozona laternaria being the exception.
Yesterday's micros all now identified or confirmed and spread-sheeted.
Wednesday's duty was quiet with the three of us nearly out numbering visitors and birding was slow with just cream-crowned Marsh Harrier, possibly an adult female, hunting the North Brooks and taking what was probably a young Moorhen. A Hobby raced through low , too quick for Vic and Peter. People with scopes were able to locate two LRPS and a Green Sandpiper but a second flying GS was easily picked up in the bins. Precious few small birds but Whitethroat, Blackcap, Garden Warbler and Sedge Warbler still vocal. One 'gurking' Nightingale on Green Lane was almost certainly with young.
Insect wise just a handful of Meadow Brown, two Large Skippers and Syritta pipiens.
One or two roadside Kestrels on the way back but no hawking Med Gulls over the A3 today.
