Starting with some very local items, Rob Treble reported a Wheatear in his garden at the
beginning of the month. This bird would have been resting and feeding during its long migration from Africa to Northern Britain or perhaps even Iceland. The first Wheatears started passing through in mid March and the stragglers are still coming as I write (20th).
John Croxton has had three Hobby sightings around Duck Lane, all typically brief ‘passing through’ views but today saw a Red Kite pass over. Ten minutes after he ‘phoned, Jackie Huxtable rang to say that a Red Kite was circling over the Hand Stadium. This bird is likely to have been one of 71(!) which had arrived at Lands End, probably from France a few days earlier and was making its way north east. Jackie also reported young Great Spotted Woodpeckers in Cooks Lane.
Our last Kenn report comes courtesy of Jasper, Isaac and Esme, Jean Fenwick’s grandchildren. On one of their excursions to the field behind the Village Hall, they saw two Buzzards and two Kestrels. Their Kestrel sightings are especially encouraging as this bird has suffered a big drop in numbers over recent years, so many thanks to our budding young ornithologists.
Chris Sperring MBE from the Hawk & Owl Trust has ringed two Tawny Owlets in Littlewood and another two from a box on Congresbury Moor. Barn Owls are active and we are optimistic for a good year as there is lots of grass which should mean lots of field voles, a major prey item for them.
Cuckoos seem to be making something of a comeback and I was lucky enough to see a male and hear a female (they have a distinct bubbling call) in close proximity at Blake’s Pools, Kingston Seymour. There have been reports from Walton in Gordano, Portbury, Congresbury and Sandford and whilst nothing like the numbers of earlier years, this does represent an increase on recent times. I understand that this small improvement is noticeable across England.
Our breeding birds are enjoying the good weather conditions with baby birds appearing all over and I think that I have heard more Blackbirds singing this Spring than for a very long time.
Trevor Riddle
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