Due to my Mam recently falling and breaking her hip I have not be able to venture too far from home in case I was needed to help her. Today was a chance on a lovely spring morning to go for a couple of hours walking from home around QE2 park towards the town centre.
As I entered the lane at the end of my street the dulcet tones of Blackcap echoed loudly around the hedgerows. It took me no longer than 1 minute to follow the sound to locate the bird tucked at the back of a large shrub on the lane.
The messy shot above with branches galore visible soon became the theme of the day as you will soon see!
Birds were singing everywhere and when at the end of the lane heading towards QE2 park I had seen, Lesser Redpoll, Siskin, Robin, Dunnock, Blackbird, Wren, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove and good numbers of active Corvids above.
Crossing the river into QE2 park I scanned for Grey Wagtail and Kingfisher, the latter was not to be seen at all during the walk but a lone Grey Wagtail was fleetingly seen when crossing the river at the same spot to go home.
Mallards and Moorhens were the only bird seen on the river Witham so I moved over to follow the areas of heavy shrubbery / hedges across the grassed areas. Here a couple of Song Thrush, more Wood Pigeon and a single Stock Dove were seen.
After a while of looking around primarily for any early arriving Chiffchaff (none found) I moved back to the riverside and soon had a busy and singing Goldcrest over my head in a tree.
In the same area I caught sight of a nesting Collared Dove taking nesting material into its nest site in a heavily camouflaged tree trunk.
Crows were around foraging near the river banks too.
I began to make my way back seeing a Moorhen basking in the warm sunshine on the small fishing lake – another bird surrounded by branches!
Even the birds in the distance like this Magpie were half hiding behind branches and twigs stopping me getting clear images!
After crossing the bridge to walk back home this Chaffinch was happily sunning itself.
Making my way back to the lane near my home I saw a displaying Wren at pretty close quarters.
No sign was seen nor heard of either Goldcrest or the Blackcap male before arriving back home. But I could clearly hear the lovely sound of Lesser Redpoll and Siskin in the tree at the bottom of my garden so could not resist taking a few pics while we waited for the yorkshire puddings to rise!
I dont think I have taken so many images with such messy backgrounds but still great to see the sun out, hear the birds singing and getting to share a little time watching nature turn the corner into its next phase.
lincsbirders 