The First Swallow

On Friday it was my birthday and I had the unexpected present of my first Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica of the year. I had the day off and decided to drop in at Wilstone Reservoir despite the pouring rain, in the hope of seeing a Scandinavian Rock Pipit Anthus petrosus littoralis that had been found earlier that morning. Two Chiffchaffs were cheerfully singing, a few Sand Martins were sallying high over the water and then all of a sudden there it was, a lone Swallow, hugging the surface, feeding busily. This was the earliest Swallow I can remember seeing by several days and a heartening sight, bringing with it the faint promise of summer. Frustratingly, the Rock Pipit was constantly flushed by a group of noisy ramblers and proved hard to see, so I visited the reservoir again in the evening and was lucky to have some excellent views as it fed quietly in the evening sun amongst the rocks by the jetty. The Swallow had already moved on, it's visit brief but welcome.

Barn Swallows in Autumn, (21/08/2010)

Spring

The first Swallow may not make a summer but the first Sand Martin means spring is here as far as I am concerned. I always wait with mounting excitement for the first spring migrants and today turned out to be a red letter day with the welcome sight of 6 Sand Martins busily feeding over the water at Wilstone Reservoir and a handsome male Wheatear along with a pair of Stonechats on the southern slope of Ivinghoe Beacon.

All this, and I saw my first Brimstone of the year, racing along a hedgerow in the warm morning sunshine. The fields are full of tiny tottering Lambs, Sweet Violet and Celandine are brightening the budding woods and everywhere Daffodils are exploding into flower. There's no doubt about it - spring is here!

Lamb on Ivinghoe Beacon (13/03/2011)

Ashridge Forest

Around this time of year I always spend a few mornings wandering around Ashridge Forest, in what sadly, seems to be an increasingly futile search for a Lesser-spotted Woodpecker. Ashridge used to be an excellent site for these increasingly elusive birds, but has become more and more unreliable over the last few years. Despite failing to find any Lesser-spots it is wonderful to be out in the forest on a cold bright morning with the low sun cutting through the Beech trees in thick smoky shafts. The woods echo to the drumming of Greater-spotted Woodpeckers and the songs of Nuthatches and Treecreepers. Stock Doves moan from the high branches and float lazily between the tree-tops, while nervous chattering flocks of Lesser Redpoll bounce busily through the Silver Birches. Fallow Deer relax in the golden light, soaking up what warmth they can glean from the cold sun, enjoying the peace and quiet before the joggers and dog-walkers arrive. Then it's time to leave, before the sounds of the forest are drowned out by the racket of dogs and their owners.

Early morning sun in Ashridge Forest (21/03/2011)