Wednesday 21st was another spring-like day with plenty of sunshine. Warm enough for the first adder to emerge from hibernation at Cudmore Grove CP. in their usual spot near the car park. Judging by the large size, this was a female that was photographed as it moved between bare patches of ground amongst the bramble bushes. The date is the earliest recorded at the park but only by a couple of days which, considering how mild the winter has been, I've been surprised not to have seen one before now. The first adder emerged last spring on the 25th Feb with the last one noted during the third week of October.
There will be more photos to take over the next couple of months and if last spring is anything to go by, there could be a veritable nest of vipers to admire with possibly up to seven snuggled up to each other. They like this area because they can bask on the south facing slope, on the warm sandy soil and if danger approaches, then they can slink into the brambles.
Sadly the Dartford warbler was not seen today which disappointed many local birders. The overnight conditions were not the usual ones for birds to fly away as it was overcast and drizzly.
The sunshine at the Point brought the reed buntings and dunnocks to the tops of the shrubby sea-blite bushes to sing. The regular wintering pair of stonechats provided nice views as they too perched up on the bushes. However there was no sign of that elusive warbler. There had been the earlier sight of a male sparrowhawk hurtling along the saltmarsh, doing its usual style of low level attack. It seemed to be heading to the Point and luckily for the small birds in that area, it veered away to perch on a small bush before flying northwards.
In the late afternoon thousands of waders were gathered on the mud beside the Point, feeding on the recently uncovered mud. The largest group was about 2000 dunlin which suddenly took to the air, wheeling sharply one way and then the next, as if a bird of prey had been spotted nearby.
There will be more photos to take over the next couple of months and if last spring is anything to go by, there could be a veritable nest of vipers to admire with possibly up to seven snuggled up to each other. They like this area because they can bask on the south facing slope, on the warm sandy soil and if danger approaches, then they can slink into the brambles.
Sadly the Dartford warbler was not seen today which disappointed many local birders. The overnight conditions were not the usual ones for birds to fly away as it was overcast and drizzly.
The sunshine at the Point brought the reed buntings and dunnocks to the tops of the shrubby sea-blite bushes to sing. The regular wintering pair of stonechats provided nice views as they too perched up on the bushes. However there was no sign of that elusive warbler. There had been the earlier sight of a male sparrowhawk hurtling along the saltmarsh, doing its usual style of low level attack. It seemed to be heading to the Point and luckily for the small birds in that area, it veered away to perch on a small bush before flying northwards.
In the late afternoon thousands of waders were gathered on the mud beside the Point, feeding on the recently uncovered mud. The largest group was about 2000 dunlin which suddenly took to the air, wheeling sharply one way and then the next, as if a bird of prey had been spotted nearby.
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