With spring being so squashed by the lingering winter and an on-rushing summer, now it has warmed up the flood gates have opened. Summer bird visitors are pouring in and everyday new songs and sights can be seen on the Moss. Today the willow warblers and cuckoos who arrived a few days back were well established and have now been joined by redstarts. Three males of these lovely relatives of the robin were singing scratchily from the tops of birch trees along the south edge of the moss, one easily seen and heard from the car park. Even better there was a snipe drumming over the boardwalk. Drumming is the name given to the activity these birds do when marking their territory though it is not very descriptive. The birds make a bleating noise as they dive but this is no call but actually the outer tail feathers vibrating. Redpolls and crossbills were buzzing and chupping overhead respectively and a tree pipit put in a quick appearance close to the car park. But the highlight of the morning was a couple of redshank that dropped out of the sky to the pool by the stone seat making their soft pleading calls. Another called high up as it passed over so these 2 are probably only stopping for a quick rest but it would be great if all the wetting up of the moss tempted them to stay longer.
With all these spring birds decorating the changing season it was a complete contrast to hear a group of 100 late pink feet geese fly over, some of the last winter residents taking advantage of the recently turned southerly winds to make their break for Iceland. Their 'wink, wink' calls taking me back with a slight shiver to the icy winter just gone.
Thank you to Rachel of Thornhill Primary School for her fantastic picture of Flanders.
