With the arrival of the Icterine Warbler today the garden family is complete again. The cat is locked inhouse during daylight-hours after he killed the pair of Barn Swallows (I still do not understand why they sat on the ground inside the barn). I will never forgive him for that, but I am extremely happy that a new pair has settled. In fact it is the best year ever, with nesting Chiffchaff, Blackbird (3 pairs), Song Thrush, Starling and several House Sparrows. And there are territorial Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Goldcrest, Short-toed Treecreeper, Blackcap, Dunnock, Wren, Collared Dove and.. Long-eared Owl! Today it was calling in broad-daylight, not sure if this indicates a nest and/or young.
EDIT May 11th: a pair of Spotted Fycatchers arrived, hope they stay!
Meanwhile Ezumakeeg is very productive. The bad weather of the last days resulted in a huge flock of Swifts and swallows, and today there were several Little Gulls, Black Terns and 2 White-winged Terns! The pair of White-tailed Eagles gave a great show and caught a Teal in a coordinated hunt. And of course there are waders. Many Dunlins, Ringed Plovers, Little & Temminck's Stints, some Curlew Sands, a Red-necked Phalarope and a Glossy Ibis!
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| distant digiscope of the Phalarope |
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| Curlew Sandpiper |
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| dull weather digiscope of a colour-ringed Little Stint - probably a Norwegian bird |
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| Glossy Ibis, most of the time hiding in the long grass |
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| Garganey - digiscope |
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| Temminck's Stints, about 25 were present |
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| Ezumakeeg is looking promising! |
And that Bearded Vulture... yesterday I missed it by few kilometers, and today I could probably have seen it from my house. Same like 3 years ago. Unlucky with big birds this spring..
