Chiffchaff

Heard a chiffchaff singing yesterday which probably means that the blackcap is also a spring migrant!

Blackcap

A cock blackcap has been around the garden for the last two days. It has even been taking sunflower kernels from the feeders, which is not a behaviour I expected to observe. Today I heard it singing which then poses the question: Is this a winter visitor from farther north or is it an early spring migrant?

Fogspawn in the fish pond and newtlets in the wildlife pond!

More Snow

A second arctic blast hit the area last week and once again many of the birds disappeared from the scene. This time it took several days of warm weather before the skylarks, linnets and yellow hammers returned. Still a mystery as to where they go during the inclement weather.
There is a large flock of redwings roosting in nearby woods (tends to vary as to which they select). In the morning you can hear their mass singing which caused quite some consternation when first heard.

Primroses have sprung up everywhere and violets are appearing on sunny embankments.

Breeding Birds

Whilst the skylarks are clearly now establishing their breeding territories along with the chaffinches and the song thrushes, the only birds I have seen actively nest building are the magpies, which have been active in their prolonged nest building exercise for some weeks, and today I also saw a hen blackbird collecting materials. No doubt, further afield, there will be rooks and herons on nests, but these are the only birds seen actively nest building in this area.

Returning Birds

During the arctic conditions experienced last week with snow covering the ground, many of the birds deserted us for places unknown. What was remarkable was that their return was as quick as the thaw. No sooner had most of the snow disappeared than the skylarks returned and almost immediately began singing. Similarly the flock of linnets was back along with pairs of yellow hammers.
there do appear to be fewer song thrushes singing and they, it seems were particularly hard hit. I did attempt to rescue one cold and hungry individual but sadly it only lasted half an hour in a heated room.

Merlin

Walking along the North Downs, I raised my binoculars to identify a fast flying bird. Turned out to be a starling. As I lowered my bins, my eye was drawn to a small bird giving chase. It was clearly a Merlin. The only other possibility would be a hobby and it too early in the year for that to have been the case and a starling would probably have been too large a prey item. The Merlin continued to fly westwards and I suspect it is migrating back to the western hills where it still breeds. Having said that, the flock of linnets is still around and may tempt the merlin to stay around.

Arctic Conditions

Unusually for this time of year, or for any time for that matter, we have experienced a week of arctic conditions with snow, ice, freezing rain and bitter easterly winds. The birds that appear to have suffered the most have been the thrushes. Song thrushes in particular look to be in a very weakened state. I observed one taking the dried up berries off my olive trees yesterday. It is unlikely that they would have offered much sustenance. Redwings and fieldfares have been coming into the garden looking for food.
The flock of linnets has vanished from the fields has have the skylarks. The questions is: where have they gone to?

Goldfinches and greenfinches are still flocking to the feeders in the garden along with the usual variety if tits.