Acre Nook bird sightings:
The Sandwich tern, which I found on the 19th of April, was last seen on the 13th of May, which was an incredible stay for an inland bird. On the 13th, 39 Shelduck were present along with 49 Lapwing. Reed warblers and Sedge warblers have now all returned to reedbeds and are in full song. A Cuckoo was calling from over the other side of Lapwing Lane on the 19th.On the 21st, a flyover Hobby was a first for my new patch. Numbers of Shelduck have now departed weekly, with only six birds left that have produced two broods.
Shelduck with their young
On the 22nd, two Dunlin were feeding on the sand bank along with a party of Canada Geese with their young.
Dunlin
Canada geese with their young
My first Swift of the year was over the Quarry on the 17th, and then numbers have increased throughout the month, along with big numbers of House Martins, Sand Martins and Swallows.
Sand martins are in good numbers on both sites
On the 30th, a Little Ringed Plover was seen. By the 31st of the month, Acre Nook is nearly dried out, so birding looks like it's going to get even harder, as if it's not hard enough, and they are quarrying further as you can see in the background of the photo below and dropping sand off on the site in trucks, which is causing major disturbance on site to breeding Lapwings.
Acre Nook has nearly dried out due to the warm weather
Lapwing Hall pool bird sightings
Tufted Duck numbers reached 37 throughout the month.4 Little grebes remain, along with 2 Great Crested grebes. A good number of Sand Martins are present, feeding and then flying over to Acre Nook.18 Swifts were over the Pool on the 21st.On the 13th, I came across another first, a calling Tree Sparrow which flew into the nearby wood by Foden's farm. The bird has been seen on every visit this month collecting caterpillars, and they are nesting in the farmer's garden, in which he has kindly let me in to get some photos.
Tree Sparrow
1 Wigeon remained all month, and on the 30th, a Pochard was on site.
Pochard
