Stop Press ! Sandpiper catches grub scoop !

On a dull and gloomy day at Venus Pool there was a surprise development caught on camera by one of our hidden Paparazzi. A Green Sandpiper had just caught an innocent grub and was busy cleaning it. Thankfully after all this commotion and excitement there was nothing else to report.

Venus Pool Nature Reserve activity

There was a lot of activity at the reserve on Monday 5th March and as the birds enjoyed the Spring sunshine. There were large numbers of Lapwing and Black-headed Gulls. Ducks were well represented by Mallard, Shelduck, Teal, Wigeon and a handful of Shoveler. Three species of Waders were to be seen - Curlew, Oystercatcher and a pair of Green Sandpiper. The light was superb for watchers and photographers alike being directly behind the hides and devoid of any interfering haze. The birds were also active: a large flock of Lapwing is always an impressive spectacle, Curlew were bathing and preening, Shelduck posturing, flocks of Linnet coming in to drink, and Oystercatchers adding a little "edge" to the proceedings - sort of noisy neighbours.

Birds with Attitude

It seems to me that Oystercatchers are birds with a great deal of attitude and a recent visit to Venus Pool Reserve has confirmed this observation. Last week I watched ( and photographed ) a pair of these birds disturbing the peace at the reserve on a beautiful Spring afternoon. This couple demonstrated their synchronised flying skills with a noisy and hair-raising display of formation flying and, when they were not indulging this passion, made sure that the other visitors to the pool were aware of their presence. A Curlew was chosen as the target for a low level ambush and had to take evasive action. All this activity took place in front of the "South" hide.

Support our Bees

The 1st March brought out Bees in profusion and they headed straight for Crocus flowers. Some seemed so drunk on nectar that they could hardly move - a condition not unknown to some humans, especially on a Friday night. A certain lager is advertised as the "Amber Nectar" but I'm inclined to the view that the best amber coloured ales are served via a traditional hand pump without resorting to gas pressure. And now the bees :

The joys of Spring at Venus Pool Reserve

A gorgeous Spring afternoon at Venus Pool Reserve with lots of bird activity and the most wonderful light for photography. A pair of Oystercatcher were noisily active and busy irritating the rather more sedate Curlew; Lapwing really justified their Green Plover status as they bathed in the Spring sunshine and a displaying Shelduck couple affirmed their bonds. Other than those already mentioned, there was a decent range of water species including Green Sandpiper, a pair of Snipe, Grey Heron, Teal, Wigeon, Shoveler, Mallard, Coot, Moorhen, Mute Swan and Black-headed Gull. 

Oystercatcher

Peewit, Lapwing or Green Plover - take your pick

Curlew

Green Sandpiper

Gone all Pre-Raphaelite ?

Coundmoor Valley with Cound in the distance



 Perhaps. Well, the unofficial, and glorious, first day of Spring prompted a visit to Cound and a  beautiful walk along Coundmoor Brook. The sun shone, the sky was blue, the buzzards displayed, the lambs beguiled and the Snowdrops were at their ecstatic best. I imagined       members of that Victorian brotherhood ambling along and recording, in fine detail, the natural beauty of this place. To go there on such a day is to have one's senses assaulted by a quintessentially English scene. This place is easy to find and there are several approaches from the north and east accessed by parking at Cound Church, down the road at Harnage House or further along at the The Green. If you need to refresh the spirit then go there now !

A garden by the Green

Sunbathers on The Green

Snowdrop woodland near the Dingle

Peregrine and Snowdrops

No, this is not the title of my new album though I know that this will be disappointing for many fans. I digress. We went to Attingham Park today to experience the famed Snowdrop Walk. As we approached the car park we happened upon a Peregrine Falcon that was busy dining on what turned out to be a Jackdaw - of which there is a large colony in the grounds of the stately home. The raptor took off once it had been rumbled and flew into a tree some two hundred yards from the roadside and I hid behind a small tree hoping that dinner had been left behind and that the king of the falcons would return. No chance. The Peregrine scrutinised me from a safe distance perched in an Oak tree and then flew off. I wondered whether it was one of the pair which nested on the cliff face at Forest Glen car park or a vagrant just passing through ? Anyway, the evidence is below with the plucking area and a massively cropped photo of the raptor.

The Snowdrops at Attingham are always spectacular but the lack of any winter rainfall has affected the numbers. However they are always a delight and the first sign that winter is in retreat and that life is returning to the countryside.