Toft Birds - Some Migrants Have Arrived

Chiffchaffs (images 1,3) and Willow Warblers (2,4) were singing their heads off this morning. I do hope that they both have partners and may be joined by other pairs. There was a Blackcap singing in the Allotments but no Whitethroats (hopefully still to arrive). Only a single Swallow hunting over the field and so far only one Skylark. There are no Yellowhammers or Reed Buntings but since the banks of the Brook have been cleared there isn't a habitat for them.

 Looking back at my bird sightings book for 1967 when I moved to Toft - so many birds are no longer seen/heard on my walks - Corn Bunting, Turtle Dove, Cuckoo, Lesser Whitethroat, House Martin, Swifts, Linnets, Spotted Flycatcher, Snipe, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker etc We have gained the Red Kite!!

Summer Leys Walk

We took a very warm walk at Summer Leys Reserve today, visiting the various hides where a Kingfisher and friendly Chiffchaff partly made up for the lack of close waders and Egrets as on previous visit and the 'Toad Pond' where we were entertained by Grass Snake, Terrapin and various Dragonflies. The Willow Emerald has unexpanded hind wings but did manage to fly away.

Very Wet Thursday

 Yesterday was the monthly walk at Paxton Pits and, unsurprisingly, only a small group ventured round the reserve. We did manage to record 37 bird species including Garden warbler, Chiffchaff, Common Terns hopefully nesting on the rafts,  adult Cormorant ?teaching young about fishing and Great Crested Grebe pair. Back in the garden in the afternoon, many insects were sheltering on leaves and flowers while the spiders continued to monitor their webs.

Bee Flies, Bees and Birds in Toft

A miscellany from the last couple of days in Toft - bee flies taken at 1/800th and1/6400th second and still not quite stopping wing movement; three Andrena species of mining bees (A,nitida, A. heamorrhoa and A. cineraria); three migrant species (Chiffchaff, blackcap,Willow warbler) and a Dunnock.