An unexpected trip to Whisby Nature Park presented itself today. Spring in the air, parents wanted a walk etc...
Two Year Ticks:
BUZZARD - 3 soaring on thermal circa 13:15.
CHIFFCHAFF - in good voice on other side of the railway track, seen from Grebe Walk.
Outside that, the usual birds were there in good numbers. I didn't see them, but a man informed me that about 6 Snipe had been seen around Thorpe Lake.
Lots of belligerent Black-headed Gulls were either fighting for mates, courting or making nests. A few were mobbing wing-drying Cormorants.
Coots, a few Great Crested Grebes, many Tufted Duck, Mallards etc. Lots of Robins, Wrens, Dunnocks, Blue Tits, Great Tits and a few Chaffinches were singing all round the reserve. A female Kestrel briefly visited a tree on the outskirts of the reserve.
Red Arrows seen on the way home. Our car, weaving its way around the south of Lincoln, was under the practice display for a good 10 minutes. The 'Enid' section of the Team, as well as individual Hawk jets did a low pass bolt-straight over our car, ejecting an EPIC earful of jet noise. They were everywhere; behind us, in front of us and to either side of us. Just unbelievable.
The Red Arrows succeeded once more in leaving me breathless with awe and utter joyous admiration! Also saw the 'Rollbacks' manoeuvre, Corkscrew and the whole team in 'Concorde' formation. What a truly stunning way to end an afternoon's worth of stunning, sunny weather!
