April Update - Blooming Gorse and More Blooming Rain
The cool, wet weather that started in March continued through much of April, curtailing the opportunities and dampening our enthusiasm to get out on the patch. However, when conditions allowed we were rewarded with the sight of the gorse in full bloom as well as a welcome increase in the numbers and diversity of species across the heath and woodlands. Arrivals of our summer migrants were all slightly later than last year, but by the middle of the month we were regularly hearing the sound of Blackcaps, Willow Warbler, Common Whitethroat and Cuckoo in their usual locations. Swallows were the first Hirundines to reappear, on 2 nd April, with a single House Martin passing overhead on the 16 th , but no Sand Martin this year and no Swift so far. A small group of Wheatear touched down in their favoured area of burned gorse behind the football pitches on the 17 th , enjoying a bit of rest before continuing their journey to their Northern beeding sites. A single Yellow Wagtail p...