April at WIlberforce Wood and Noddle Hill

A frosty and cold morning with clear skies, I take the bus to Kingswood and walk along Wilberforce Wood to Noddle Hill. Wilberforce Wood is looking good, many birds in song including the first Willow Warbler of the year (number 85 of the 100 birds in Hull challenge, number 84 was a Woodcock fly over at Pearson park). Reed Bunting, Blackcap, Chiffchaffs, Robins and Great Tits and more all filling the soundscape. I flush a Green Woodpecker, which dives into the wood. At the Foredyke Pond I fail to see any signs of frog or toad spawn.

Frosty Wilberforce Wood.

Bullfinch.

Great Tit singing.

Reed Bunting singing.

Willow Warbler.

Song Trush.

A patch of Ground Ivy. There are many rabbits in that area and I wonder if they don't like Ground Ivy.

Rabbit.

This Willow Warbler has a 'pollen horn'. Several warbler species feed on nectar to refuel in short stop-overs during their spring migration, and they build up a crust around the bill as the sugary nectar sticks the pollen to the feathers around the bill. 

I carry on to Noddle Hill. On the playing fields, there is a Moorhen, not far from the Foredyke Stream, but looking oddly out of place. I haven't walked far along the stream, when I spot a Barn Owl hunting along the drain and one of the fields of the reserve, the light is just wrong for photos, but I manage some in flight record shots before it goes out of sight. 

Moorhen.

A Barn Owl hunting over the Foredyke Stream.

Grey Heron on one of the pools by the solar panel field.

A buzzard with very tattered wings.

A lone Lapwing on another pool.

Reed Bunting.

The first Blackcap I photograph this year, at the pumping station.

One of four Yellowhammers near the feeders.

Hare.

One of five Gadwall on the fishing pond.

One of the many highlights of the day is to find two Jays at the reserve, the first I see there. A Green Woodpecker was neighing non stop. And Just before I left, a singing Lesser Whitethroat, another year addition to the year challenge, number 86, and a fitting way to finish the trip. A total of 46 species for the day. As I walk back, it has noticeably warmed up, and butterflies are becoming active in the sunshine.

A view of Noddle Hill. 

Mating Speckled Woods.

Wilberforce Wood.