Eakring Bird news

April 1st

A Ring Ouzel flying north-west over Eakring village and then Red Hill was the only highlight of a quiet morning. Just six Fieldfare at Penny Pasture Common, were the only ones in the area today. Chiffchaffs continue to arrive, with most of the usual territories now occupied by singing males.

April 7th

A male Ring Ouzel was the morning's highlight, noted moving high north over Eakring Flash and continuing out of sight over Lound Wood at 08:00h. Still 18 Fieldfare at Penny Pasture Common, the first two Willow Warbler were at Eakring Flash, with one noted moving off north-west and Blackcaps were at Hare Hill Wood and Eakring Meadows. An Osprey was over Kneesall early morning (per Birdguides).

April 12th

Generally quiet across the area this morning, but at least there was an increase in visible migration with 97 Meadow Pipit north-west, but just small numbers of Linnet, Goldfinch and a single Swallow through. 38 Fieldfare and a Redwing were still at Penny Pasture Common.

April 18th

Four hours in the area this morning and over an hour late evening, provided virtually nothing for the effort put in and the south-easterly wind and rain did not bring the hoped for tern or wader. The only moving birds were a handful of Swallows and the year's first Yellow Wagtail through Eakring Flash and nine Golden Plover east. A Peregrine over Lound Wood was some compensation.

April 20th

An interesting morning, but still nothing hardly moving through apart from 27 Meadow Pipit, four Swallow and two Sand Martin north-west. A Coal Tit went north at Eakring Flash (the third in as many days) and singles of both Blackcap and Willow Warbler did the same. However, some birds did arrive overnight, including a reeling male Grasshopper Warbler, a very elusive Redstart and a Lesser Whitethroat at Penny Pasture Common.

17 Fieldfare were also still at Penny Pasture Common, with another eight at Tug Bridge Farm. A walk around the Red Hill area, followed by a further visible migration session, provided two Hawfinch high south-east, basically flying away from the Rufford CP area. Spring Lesser Black-backed Gull passage more obvious today, with 15 north and north-west.

A promising start to the morning, after heavy overnight rain which saw The Beck burst its banks in several places. Nests of Coot and Moorhen at Eakring Flash have been lost through flooding and Penny Pasture Common was also flooded.

Meadow Pipits were moving through high north-west for an hour or so after first light. There was no big count, but probably many were missed. Other counts included six Fieldfare and five House Martin north-west, but best bird was a Ring Ouzel (third this Spring) which was initially at Lound Wood, but then flew into dense cover at Eakring village and not seen again.

The male Redstart was again in the Hawthorns nearest the road at Penny Pasture Common, but no sign of yesterday's Grasshopper Warbler. A White Wagtail was also present (per Robin Brace)

April 22nd

Despite appearing to be very quiet, the area's run of good records continued this morning. Highlight was a Short-eared Owl moving east over Eakring Flash at 09:35h and continuing, probably towards the Eakring Meadows area. An earlier visit to Penny Pasture Common, provided the male Grasshopper Warbler and male Redstart again, and a male Wheatear. Meadow Pipits continue to move through during the first few hours, with 58 north-west. Other migrants included just three Swallows through and two Yellow Wagtail all north-west. 16 Tufted Duck at Eakring Flash, was a new site record and two Little Grebe were also there this morning.

April 23rd

Despite the overcast and at times rainy conditions, Meadow Pipits were moving through with 79 heading mostly west, between 07:30h and 09:00h, but a group of seven also went south. Two Sand Martin flew north and a House Martin west, were the only hirundines noted moving today. The male Wheatear and Grasshopper Warbler were still at Penny Pasture Common and still 12 Fieldfare there, but no sign of the Redstart today.

April 26th

A male Cuckoo in the Leyfields area for a short time early morning, calling several times on two occasions, but had moved on by 06:45h. The first Sedge Warbler and Whitethroat finally arrived, both at Eakring Flash, but otherwise, it was a quiet morning. The only visible migration was a handful of Swallow moving north.

April 27th

The male Cuckoo still in the Leyfields/Lound Wood area this morning and considerably more vocal than yesterday. A Hobby flew low south-east over Eakring Flash and the first Swifts (14) moving north-west from mid-morning onwards. Two late Fieldfare, five House Martin and seven Swallow went north.

The fourth Ring Ouzel of the Spring was found along a hedgerow near Eakring Flash early morning. It was unlike most other Ring Ouzels in that it was not so flighty and sat openly for long periods when first found, then eventually flew into trees along the southern edge Lound Wood.

The area remained generally quiet, though a few new warblers arrived overnight, including two Whitethroat and two Lesser Whitethroat. Swallows were trickling through for the first few hours and a group of five House Martin went north, but less Swifts through today, with just three (all singles) north-west.

Fieldfare still in the area, included three near Eakring village and eight at Penny Pasture Common. The Cuckoo was again in the Leyfields area and at least five Common Buzzards were at three sites in the area.

		A break in the weather produced a significant arrival/fall of Wheatear at three sites in the area this morning. The record total of 21 birds, included ten (seven females and three males) near a temporary flash pool at Leyfields Farm, nine (four females and five males) at Penny Pasture Common and a male and female in horse paddocks at Ryall's Farm, Eakring village. Several birds of the Greenland race were in the Penny Pasture Common total. After spending hours waiting in the rain during the past fortnight, it was quite ironic that three Arctic Terns flew high over Eakring village at 07:05h, in a crystal clear, blue sky. With a steady trickle of hirundines passing north, a Hobby also went north over Eakring Flash and Lound Wood, but there was also a less obvious movement/arrival of warblers early morning, with two new Lesser Whitethroat, four Blackcap, single Willow Warbler and Whitethroat new in, or passing through.
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The male Ring Ouzel was again present for a third day and showed occasionally, along the hedgerow near the flash pool at Leyfields Farm. Good numbers of Yellow Wagtails around the flooded fields this morning, but also five passing through north or north-west. Still eight Fieldfare at Penny Pasture Common.

Eakring Bird news
April 2012
Featuring news and sightings from Eakring