Dawn Chorus Guided Walk - Sunday 12th May

It may have been an early start but well worth it with a clear sky, cool and quite windy to begin with but easing later. 8 people joined myself and Ranger Jane at 0430 outside the Visitor Centre and after a quick briefing we set off along the main path with Blackbirds and Robins already well into their stride. At the steps we turned off to head down to the Rough and a Blackcap joined the chorus along with a more distant Song Thrush. As we skirted the edge of the Rough a couple of Garden Warblers were heard, but quite difficult to pick them from the backing track of the Blackbirds and Robins, even though they were closer to us. We continued to the Dead Seat and looked out over west Fingers in the hope of an Otter cruising by at this early hour but that wasn't to be, instead a Chiffchaff serenaded us from high overhead in the Willows.

Next stop was the Rough, but not before another Garden Warbler sang to us as we passed the muddy patch before the gate. Jane let us into the Rough, a conservation zone, and we did the outer loop picking up yet another Garden Warbler. We also found the Song Thrush which was doing his best to drown out everything else by now. Blackcap, Wren and Chaffinch along with the first Great and Blue Tits started to come to the fore as we stood and listened to the chorus. Robins and Blackbirds started to find better things to do and background levels began to settle back to a point where individual birds could be picked out. The subtle song of the Willow Warbler was still overwhelmed, however, as it song from the top of the Poplars in the Sheep Pen. Carrion Crows and Jackdaws were also quite vocal here.

We retraced our steps back towards the Steps noting that the Finger Lakes Mute Swans have settled back to one of their regular nest sites after dabbling with a couple of new sites in recent weeks. Back on the main path and it wasn't long before we found our first singing Reed Warbler of the morning, in the reeds along the north edge of the main lake. A few Swifts were spotted overhead and as we moved along the path to a more open spot we realised there were a good number of Swifts over the main lake and higher up I spotted a group of ~35 Sand Martins with another group of 5 close by.

We turned down the Spit but the Willow Warbler that has been in the first Willows on the right was AWOL this morning, slightly frustrating as I was hoping we would be able to hear this one more clearly than the one in the Sheep Pen. Blackcap and Garden Warbler were again prominent along the Spit and a single Little Egret was on the fallen Willow at the north end of west Fingers. The resident pair of Great Crested Grebes were also on west Fingers, still seemingly not having settled on a nest site. A male Cuckoo made itself known   arriving from the north of the park and circling the south end of Fingers before stopping at the Willows across by the the Dead Seat. It then retraced its steps before going quiet.

In the Crescent we stopped and took in the song of the Reed Warblers and solitary Sedge Warbler. Reed Warblers are still not here in great numbers but there has been an increase this week with more moving in along the south side of the main lake per DK.

We moved on to the Beach where the strong overnight winds had whipped the lake to foam which had built up along the edge of the Beach. We continued along the Navigation Channel with a brief stop at Kramer Hide and continued across the flower meadow to the Kissing Gate. A couple Blackcaps were singing strongly at the north end of the Woodland Walk and yet another Garden Warbler was singing across the road by the side of the New Cut.

From the STW bridge Reed Warblers were the main players in the reed bed, seemingly usurping the Sedge Warblers that had been here in previous weeks. A single Sedge Warbler was trying to start up on the east side of the river but not quite making it yet. A quick look out over 100 Acre where a handful of Starlings were feeding in the long grass and a pair of Mute Swans were preening on the small lake. The wind had eased by this time so I led the group along the cycle track to the Meadow Lane turning off onto 100 Acre just before the bridge. We had stopped along the cycle track as a Sedge Warbler sang from the reeds by the  big lake on 100 Acre. An Oystercatcher showed briefly in the grounds of the STW.

As we headed along the trail on 100 Acre a Common Whitethroat greeted us with its flight song and the single piping note of a Redshank was heard. We stopped at the gap in the hedges and looked out across the island on the big lake. A pair of Tufted Ducks were present along with a Great Crested Grebe. Several pairs of Canada Geese are on nests on the island. The Redshank called again was spotted across the far side of the lake, it settled on the side of the lake and gave good views in the scope before flying off to the island. A Snipe flew over towards Meadow Lane GP and an Oystercatcher showed itself at the north end of the island. It flew and gave us good views as it circled the island. Another noisy fly past and another Oyc showed itself on the island. 5 Mute Swans and couple of Greylag Geese were on the Spit between the main lake and the bay.

As I checked the bay I spotted a pair of Great Crested Grebes displaying. They were mirroring each others actions so I pointed them out to the group and we watched as they continued this display. Next they both disappeared and one surfaced with a beak full of weed. A brief wait and the the second bird surfaced and they engaged in the weed dance, a beautiful sight, making the early start worth the effort on its own.

We followed the trail along the edge of the bay and Sedge Warblers were singing strongly on both sides with one bird showing really well in the hedge by the side of the bay.

Next stop was the north side of the crop field where Skylarks were getting up. One of the group spotted a couple of birds on the ground and the scope revealed a pair of Wheatears, undeniably the star birds of the morning. They showed fairly well in the scope before we moved on, checking out the scrape where a couple of Lapwings got up, another great sight and sound as they displayed. A single Pied Wagtail flew in but no sign of the White Wagtails or Ringed Plover of the previous weekend.

We circled back to the cycle track by the bypass and headed back towards the park. Sedge Warbler, Blackcaps and Common Whitethroat were all heard and when we reach Meadow Lane a Swallow flashed across the path in front of us. Looking up Meadow Lane a couple of Swallows were hunting up and down the path and a couple of Swifts were hunting above the large tree further back along the lane.

Back at the STW bridge Reed and Sedge Warblers were now singing strongly, Reeds in the reed bed, fittingly, and the Sedges on the periphery. We followed the road back along the north side of the park but didn't pick up anything new until we reached the car park where a Lesser Whitethroat was singing from the hedgerow between the car park and the Premier Inn. Swifts were still in good numbers over the VC and Martins and Swallows were over the main lake. Sand Martins are investigating the artificial nest block on the main lake island per DK. Will they stay and make use of the facilities for the first time this year? Stay tuned.

Thanks to all who joined me this morning and special thanks to Jane for the tea, coffee and toasted tea cakes after the walk. Back to normal next time with the regular guided bird walk on Sunday 26th May, meet at 9am outside the visitor centre.

For those of a "batty" disposition the first guided bat is on Friday 31st May at 9pm led by Ranger Danny.

Saturday 06/04/2013 - Otter

A fantastic morning at Priory Country Park. The lure of last weeks Otter sighting got me out of bed early and at the park by 06:15. With good cloud cover it was the sort of morning where I was expecting to see Sand Martins over the main lake but they still haven't made it to us yet this year. I was keen to get to the Finger Lakes but had a quick scan of the main lake and the sailing club lawn. I was hoping for a surprise wader at the sailing club but again came up blank. On the main lake there are still a few Pochard and plenty of Tufted Ducks. A pair of Gadwall and 9 Greylag Geese were found up at the Beach.

A quick loop around the Crescent flushed a couple of Corn Buntings from the reeds and a Water Rail into the reeds. At least 9 Little Egrets were still at Roost at the far end of the Spit on the east side.

Along the Spit 3 Bullfinches were active and a Chiffchaff was heard singing over by the Dead Seat. A pair of Canada Geese reluctantly gave way as I headed down the Spit. 3 Great Crested Grebes, 3 pairs of Gadwalls and a male Shoveler were all noted on the lakes. I settled into the last fishing swim on the Spit looking out over west Fingers and waited for the Otter to show. A couple of Little Grebes appeared from one of the reed beds opposite. I waited a bit more. A Coot flew noisily from my left and landed near the Little Grebes. Looking back to where the Coot came from I spotted a sleek body dive, the Otter was there. I must have walked past it as I walked along the Spit.

Otter (West Finger Lakes)

It swam past me checking me out and then porpoised just to my right and I thought it was going to disappear down the end of the lake as the bubble trail headed off that way. I stood up to get some final shots only for the Otter to surface right in front of me. It crashed dived immediately and I thought that would be the last O saw of it but no, it surfaced again further along the Spit, moving close into the bank. A few ripples in the water and then nothing. I waited, then moved across the Spit to the opposite fishing swim, looking over east Fingers. I suspected the Otter might have sneaked across the Spit, in the closed section and I was right. Just a few ripples close to the bank under a tree at first then the Otter showed again and it came my way.

Otter (East Finger Lakes)

3 times it tried to come past me but each time it went back again and the third time i think it worked its way along the edge of the Spit going away from me. That was the last I saw of it but what a morning.

Great Crested Grebe (West Finger Lakes)

Back along the Spit one of the Great Crested Grebes was showing quite well so I set up in another fishing swim hoping there might be some interaction with one of the other GC Grebes. That didn't happen but for a few moments the dawn sun broke through the clouds and the light was golden, absolutely beautiful!

DK and JA arrived a little later and we did our usual circuit of the park but there was little of note. 100+ Wigeon and a Redshank on 100 Acre and the female Sparrowhawk near the nest at Kramer hide being the highlights of the rest of the mornings wanderings. Still no Blackcaps!