Monday 26 May 2014

The Aldcliffe Broads


Dan here.

The patch was bank holiday busy this afternoon, and instead of fretting about the next big bird I took it relatively easy and enjoyed the fair weather (a bit like normal people might).

My new camera seemed to enjoy the diffuse brightness too and I like this shot of a male Common Whitethroat taken near Freeman's Wood. Four were noted, and also four Lesser Whitethroats.

Chiffchaffs were of course very early this year so the first four fledged young shouldn't have been so much of a surprise. Other hedgerow bambinos included Long-tailed Tits and Greenfinches.

Bird of the afternoon was for sure the Broad-bodied Chaser pictured above. Although common elsewhere, this is only my 3rd or 4th patch record, and the first away from Freeman's Pools.
This male was at Stodday picnic site. It was perhaps an off-passage migrant, being some way from still freshwater, unless the sewage works tanks fall into their suitable habitat category.

Particularly after yesterday's martinfest, the parish was remarkably hirundine-free during my visit, with just two Swallows seen as they fed over the saltmarsh.

DH.

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