Firecrested Wren And Barnetby Bits....Thursday 10.04.2014.

Day one of a mini holiday,saw me heading out locally and having a wander down to Kettleby Quarries and having a look around the general area.I decided to do the usual circular walk that i do,parking in the village,then walking along Marsh Lane,around the pits and back up the hillside to the west of the village and back through the churchyard to my parking spot.The first section of my walk takes in mainly gardens and some good looking horse paddocks,but little was seen on these today apart from the local Corvids and Wood Pigs,but it wasn't long before the first spring migrants were encountered.Not far from the pumping station and sewage works were the first of 4 Chiffie and 3 Blackcaps and a single Sand Martin flew over the workings.It was perfect weather for raptors today with at least 11 Common Buzzard being logged,including a very close encounter with one bird as i unknowingly flushed it from it's perch.Other birds of prey included a single female Sparrowhawk and Kestrel.A very welcome sight was a pair of Great-crested Grebes on one of the pits with a good sized,early brood of 4 chicks and were a joy to watch as the male bird brought several small insects and fish for the youngsters,which was a great sight to watch.On the workings and pits at least 5 pairs of Oystercatcher were seen and overhead 3 Swallow and further 2 Sand Martin were logged in the phone.There were plenty of insects on the wing today and these included my first Bee Fly of the year,4 Small Tortoiseshell and at least 11 Peacock butterflies.Along the path back to the churchyard several Tawny-mining Bees were seen sheltering from the brisk westerly and also a queen Common Wasp.After reaching the churchyard i heard a very familiar song and to my amazement there he was,a Firecrest!.I spent the next hour watching this little beauty as he fed around a group of Yew trees singing his little head off,what a fantastic bonus and beautiful little bird.I walked the short journey back to the car a very happy boy,a great start to my holiday.

Common Wasp.

Female Tawny-mining Bee.

Great-crested Grebes with young.

Female Great-crested Grebe.

Male Firecrest.

Singing male Firecrest.

Singing male Firecrest.

Firecrest.

Firecrest.