Spring is nearly, nearly here......

Another week of high expectations...not fulfilled birdwise at Windmill - apart from a good influx of Willow Warblers and 2 Groppers no other migrants have braved the journey to date. I am hoping that the warm weather, forecast for this coming week, will push some birdies my way.

 

There have been some good signs of things starting to happen with a couple of Green Veined Whites and an Oil Beetle out on the Lizard coast path yesterday. I also went down to the Farm early yesterday (it was cold and mizzly) and I found this lil beauty:

 

 

 

 

This is a female Emperor Moth - she was very wet and limp - I came back later in the day and she was much perkier! It won't be long until she attracts a mate. Whilst I was on the way to check on her I nearly stepped on this little bad boy....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I also found another new adder on Saturday. That is 9 individuals this year so far.

 



 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 





Spring is coming lol

Well the weather has finely turned a little Spring like and the first migrants are in on the Farm. I normally have had my first Damselfly (Large Red) by now - but it is too cold. No March Willow Warblers or Swallows but both turned up this week. I also had a couple of lingering/passing Raptors this week.

 

 

There were two S E owls hunting over Predannack Airfield and a Merlin roosting nearby,

 



 



There are 3 Roe Deer regulary feeding in the arable fields.

 

 





 

I spent hours over the weekend at the Farm hoping that one of the Alpine Swifts would come my way but in the end I had to go down to the village for them - Alpine is not on the Farm list.

 

There are plenty of Adders about.

 

 

Spring? No way lol

Normally by this time I have had Willow Warblers and Swallows at Windmill Farm and on a couple of occasion Cuckoo....not this year. That said I have still had some good times down there this week.

I was taking a pic of one of my reliable Adders and a mate of his slid past!

 

 

Slow Worms are awake now too - these two seem happy in each others company - I think they are both males (due to the lack of brown side stripes).

 

 



 

 

We also have at least 3 Roe Deer that frequent the Farm - here is one from early this morning.

 

 

I have had a Nijer feeder up for about 5 months - it is now working!

 

 

 

 

Away from the reserve the best of the week was a pair of Peregrine on the Lizard cliffs - here is Mr P.

 

 



 

 

Let's hope for some migrants next week!