RSPB Lapwing Survey

I visited Broadgate on 24th April to do my Lapwing survey and found a total of 23 birds i.e. 11 pairs or so in the survey fields. However, you can't just divide the number of birds by two as some males may have two "wives" so 23 birds might represent a number of triangles instead of pairs!

Whilst I ate my packed lunch in the car it was so enjoyable watching the Swallows flying down to a puddle in the farmyard to collect mud and bits of straw to make their nests. One pair squeezed through a tiny gap at the top of the barn door to get to their new home.

I've never seen so many brown hares in one area before. I was hoping that some would box as I've never seen them do that before but I'm still waiting.

Besides Lapwings and Swallows I saw:
22 Meadow Pipits in one field (probably on passage), Curlew, Oystercatcher, Mallard, Pheasant, Mistle Thrush, Siskin, Wren, Willow Warbler, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Woodpigeon, Chaffinch, Blackcap, Blackbird, Kestrel, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Pied Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, House Sparrow, Goldfinch and Reed Bunting.

Jean Roberts

The Green Tourism Business Awards

Received my Green Tourism Business 'Silver' Award today at Hornby, had an excellent day out, very good speakers and excellent lunch

for more details about Green Tourism log onto http://www.green-business.co.uk/

Extracts from nature diary in bird hide

21st March, quiet peaceful day following a misty start. Lapwings swooping
28th March, RSPB lapwing today, saw 2 buzzards
7th April, Plenty of phesants, 4 or 5 pairs of lapwings in field to south of bird hide
9th April, A lovely sunset with lots of birds in the field behind bird hide
9th April, lots of birds, lapwings, redshank, spotted redshank, snipe, culews, woodcocks, whimbels, along with plenty of hares and rabbits

Cooler today, but dry
Busy rolling and chain harrowing fields, missing the lapwing nest, there are not as many as last year but still quite lot. Buzzards have been sited in the area which will not help the other birds.
House martins are busy in the building with their nest.
I have been tidying the garden up. The blossom is still not out.

House Martins Arrive

Even though its only 20th. April the weather today has been gorgeous, warm and sunny again.

Saw the 1st house martins yesterday, always a sign of warmer weather. they are busy today re-building their nest in the farm buildings and round the eves of the house.

The garden birds are busy feeding from the new bird feeders in the garden

A clear crisp start to today, then the sun is shining and its a lot warmer,

List of birds seen today; pheasants, curlews, lapwings, wood pecker, blue tits, buzzards, magpies

hares are plentiful