So this
post relates mostly to the Covid-19 Lockdown and how this affected the ability
go birding and engage with nature.
I had
cancelled trips to Israel in March and Fair Isle at the end of May as a result of
the virus outbreak so I was not in a happy state.
Having to
work from home this gave me the opportunity to make daily visits for the next
couple of months to Doggetts Pits, aka Doggetts Wildlife Area, as this is only
a short walk from my front door. Being an inland site I was not expecting a great
deal from here and I was largely correct in this respect but I did see the
change from winter species through the early migrants arriving to breeding
birds. Numbers of Blackcaps went from 1 to a peak of around 20 in a day and
here is where I saw most early migrants.
Due to the
lockdown fishermen were banned which was a blessing for both visiting and the
wildlife present, sadly though both this suffered once the first stage lockdown
restrictions were lifted and fishermen descended on the place en-mass and it
was suddenly an unpleasant place to visit. Rubbish everywhere and I even
witness some younger fishermen throwing a bag of rubbish over the hedge and
into the farmers field.
The
highlight from the visits to Doggetts Pits and Doggetts Farm were the long
staying male Ring Ouzel I found by the farm, it lingered 2 weeks, a flock of
over hundred Redwings, Mistle Thrushes, Muntjacs, Cetti’s Warblers and the vocal
and showy Sedge Warblers.
Other than
this birding was limited to the garden and I had a total of three Red Kites
over the garden and numerous Common Buzzards, plus Hobby, Sparrowhawks,
Kestrels and Peregrines but it at times was hard work to stay motivated.
Once restrictions
started to be lifted I was able to venture just a little further, Canvey, Hockley
Woods, Lower Raypits, Wakering Stairs, Fleet Head etc and a few extra things
were seen; such as Black-necked Grebe, Nightingales, Whooper Swans, Short-eared
Owls, Ravens, Spoonbill, Turtle Doves, Little Ringed Plovers and the like but
the best of the spring period was missed and nothing made up the loss of not
getting onto Fair Isle for the second consecutive spring. I would have had
around six Fair Isle ticks had I managed to get there when planned.
The following
are extended set of images from the lockdown period from end of March through
to early June but I really need a proper trip away somewhere, and soon.
Doggetts Pits and Doggetts Lane / Farm
Part 2 : Garden and elsewhere
