The Lapwing may have hatched their eggs - or at least the original nesters. But they have now been joined by other failed or non breeders, with some 14 extras out last night feeding away on the cattle grass last night. Any chicks, I have a feeling, are hiding amongst the peas adjacent to the plots as I have not seen them out on the grassland. There is still one bird displaying over the cattle grass - probably a failed breeder come in.
My arable contractor turned up today to cultivate half the Stone Curley plot - doing the same for all his clients. The tractor drive at least asked what was going on so I said he should look our for chicks. however it wont help any nesting Skylarks I fear.
Meanwhile passage birds are still around. A see single Swallows over the down most days, and this last couple of days one or two Wheatears have been present both on the down and on lower fields.
But bigger birds have also made an appearance at the weekend - first a red Kite soared away south after being mobbed by the Ravens, and then this was followed by a Marsh Harrier on Saturday (probably a young male form last year, dark outer primaries) down in the river valley. It was probaly seen by my neighbours on Friday and again here on Monday.
Another little gem down the meadows today, whilst counting cattle, was a Common Sandpiper, a species seen every now and then on the farm at passage time.
Meanwhile back on the down, the Corn Bunting is very vocal, and in fact I am wondering if there just might be two males singing - but I have yet to see both at once for the final bit of proof. That would be nice.
I graze my cattle in meadows some 6 miles away, and its nice to get a chance to see other birds. Tonight whilst transporting cattle up there I saw a barn Owl out patroling the grass margins at dusk, a flutter of white in the grey of the evening.
A rather nice ringing revovery has come through of a female Teal ringed here in Jan last year, shot in Pas-de-Calais, France this January.
