Hugh’s News – 5 May 2020
It is a little over a week since the last issue, and a week closer to starting to loosen the lockdown shackles!
After I confessed last time to not obtaining a photo of a Whitethroat from Heswall Fields, Peter and Jane Ham kindly sent in a cracking image of one that Peter snapped. It is better than anything I would manage!
Barry has sent a few more photos in of birds in his garden. He has an amazing variety visiting, but it must cost a small fortune in feed! I wonder if the House Sparrow here is the same one that flew into his house last week? Barry mentioned that the Black-backed Gull he saw appeared particularly dark on the back. This was probably a dark intermedius sub-species on its way to Scandinavia. Our local breeding birds of the graellsii race tend to be a little lighter grey comparatively (but still a noticeably darker grey than a Herring Gull). The whole Lesser-black Back/Herring Gull complex is however very complicated – even for Larid fans, let alone me!
We received a follow-up email from Martyn Jamieson informing us that one of the black-tailed godwits in ‘his’ South Uist creek was colour-ringed, so he got the ‘scope on it and sent details and a photo in to the experts. He has now had a report back showing its history of sightings. The bird is 15 years old and quite a well-travelled bird, visiting Iceland, Ireland, The Netherlands, Portugal and finally Scotland over the years since it was first ringed!
Walking the same route regularly under lockdown means it soon becomes hard to find new bird species. Instead, I found myself noting other interesting natural sights. I think the gorse is at its best now, and the odour emanating from the bright yellow blooms reminds me of coconut and suntan lotion! Oh to be able to go on holiday now! Tadpoles were swimming on the surface of the pool in Heswall Fields – at least when there were no dogs paddling in it. With the warm weather, butterflies are plentiful with Speckled Woods seen in shady glades.
After the showers last week, did you notice the particular smell that occurs when it rains after a dry spell? This characteristic smell is known as “petrichor” – I’ve been looking for an opportunity to use this word since I learnt it a couple of years ago!
There has been the odd new bird as well of course, and I have added House Martin to my lockdown list recently, and this morning 5 Swifts over Heswall. That has made my day!
Until the next time, keep smiling!
Hugh Stewart
