Way back in the 1990's when I lived right by a handy canal , most mornings I walked the dog along it, well, some of it, and kept copious records of everything. Quite a chunk of the sightings would no longer be gettable now, 21 years later. I'll tell you about them at the end. So.... here's the " summary" of what went on over those years of canal-birding. JANUARY starts the year quietly, and there is a possibility of frozen water in some years. Little Owls can be a welcome sound in the dark mornings. Goosanders may be in evidence, and this month gives the best chance of Pinkfeet. Snipe, though rarely seen, reach a peak of sorts with their guttural calling in the dark, largely due to the dog. FEBRUARY still has Goosanders and Little Owls, but the mornings now have enough light for birds to be seen rather that just heard. Movement begins with some flyover Lapwings and a light Skylark passage. Once MARCH arrives passage begins in earnest with Common Sandpipers ( earliest ever on 15/3), a light showing of Meadow Pipits peaking at 20/hr, and in the last week Chiffchaffs may arrive. Goosanders are still present and remaining Redwings may sing. Female Mallards begin to do their disappearing act as nesting gets under way. In 1990 this month featured a very brief Mandarin appearance ( 16:3:90). ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Well .... that's just the first three months ...... since then a lot has changed .... nearly all of it in a bad direction. Little Owls are now very rare indeed, you can forget the Common Sands, and Snipes have got much scarcer. Mipits have largely retreated back to their more natural salt-marsh half a mile away. So ... what we need now is a bit of music to soothe the weary soul ....... Indochine............... Le Manoir
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AuthorThat's the author up there ... I was young and sprightly then. Archives
October 2022
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