Northlands

The northlands beckoned and I have just returned from a much needed break in the Cairngorms.  More of that to follow but before I left I finished splicing the photo's and video from a different trip to the north a decade ago.  

Thanks to Ben, Mark and Simon for images and great companionship - with the exception of Hawk Owl, Finnature guided us to the Owls and managed our engagement with them.

keep on Rookerin the free world.

 For years, the copse next door has hosted a winter roost of Rooks and Jackdaws. The Jackdaws spend the summer on the rooftops. Two pairs regularly nest in the chimneys, but the Rooks nest communally out in the open, choosing tall trees with big open canopies.They are very faithful to traditional sites, so it's unusual to see new colonies begin, but this year, a lone Poplar tree across the road has given the chance to see one develop. Three nests quickly appeared, with a fourth soon following. There seem to be more than just four pairs of birds using the tree. It's possible that some members of the loose association are single young birds having around for the safety in numbers - but as with any community, closeness brings antagonism from time to time. Birds steal from each other's nests, and every now and then a real argument breaks out - black silk ragged wings tangling and flapping as sharp bills gape and caw. 

As the afternoon warms the air, the rookery quietens down, as all the birds are out in the fields or dozing on the nests. It's the cool mornings when most of the activity happens.

activity time.

The nestbox Stu helped me install is definitely being used this year. I set the camera up and left it recording for ten minutes, and captured the activity.

A few metres away, at the garden edge, a Song Thrush took a break from the morning chorus, and started wing flashing and tail flicking. I'm not sure if this is a display aimed at a rival or a potential mate, or even some sort of predator response to the neighbour's cat to be honest, but it's behaviour I've not seen before in Song Thrush.

 

what a coot.

There is no more evil force than the empty soul of the Coot. What a complete bastard.

 

return of the project.

Just before the winter returned with cold  iced mornings and grey winds, the first Project Godwit returned to the Washes. It was lounging on Lady Fen, preening and then wading out to feed on the main scrape. By coincidence, this bird is named 'Lady', and was released in 2017. She has been faithful to the floodplains of East Anglia ever since - stopping it at Welney before heading off to the pilot project to breed. 

This time of year sees large numbers of Godwits huddling together on the narrow spits of exposed land in front of the main hide, and most of these birds are Icelandic breeders of the smaller, brighter race. Most are already in their rufous finery, with heavily barred backs and bills beginning to flush orange. They seem excitable and just waiting for the moment when they'll leave for the far north. Other passing waders join the throng, small Dunlin, Ruff - all of which will move on during April for the shores and boggy uplands of Scandinavia.

The more muted Welney Godwits won't attain the brightness of their northern cousins, and arrive before their black and orange summer plumage has fully emerged. By May, their spangled colours will hide them in the mixed vegetation in the wash valley.