With the spring not too far away now my forthcoming survey work commitments for the busy spring period are starting to become clearer.
This morning I toured a number of sites in the Vale of Pickering that I am likely to be required to survey this year. A nice selection of farmland species were in evidence and it promises to be an interesting spring. A couple of pairs of Lapwings were already showing some signs of breeding behaviour. Other species included Yellowhammer, Linnet, Tree Sparrow and Song Thrush. A nice flock of Siskins included a number of singing males of which the bird pictured left was one. Buzzards continued to be in evidence as they begin re-establishing their territories. The bird below was photographed last week.
This morning I toured a number of sites in the Vale of Pickering that I am likely to be required to survey this year. A nice selection of farmland species were in evidence and it promises to be an interesting spring. A couple of pairs of Lapwings were already showing some signs of breeding behaviour. Other species included Yellowhammer, Linnet, Tree Sparrow and Song Thrush. A nice flock of Siskins included a number of singing males of which the bird pictured left was one. Buzzards continued to be in evidence as they begin re-establishing their territories. The bird below was photographed last week.
Yesterday a tour of a number of local sites was largely uneventful, although the Black-throated Diver remains in residence at Wykeham South Lake and there was a steady trickle of Sky Larks heading south along the coast or arriving from the sea. Finishing the day at the Holbeck car park on the south side of Scarborough it was as usual a delight to spend time with the Mediterranean Gulls that winter here. It won't be long before these are on their way to their breeding colonies and there were a couple of adults not far off full breeding plumage. A selection of images are shown below.