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creeping16th Apr 2026
Creeping
Nothing is stable. day length is increasing, it is getting warmer, and the range of species recorded on the eyot is building slowly. The spring migrants are appearing, or passing by en route .
The first, early season, surveys showed the bullish work of the song thrushes: singng lustily at either end of the eyot. Now, some 4 weeks on, that is down to just one bird, and seemingly less excited too. As the first of the fledgling blackbirds are crashing about, it does suggest that spring is on its way, and that survey timing matters.
Blackcaps have arrived since the last survey visit, and the reed bed is beginning to accumulate its own warblers. it is gratifying to see that regrowth areas in the bed being used as well as the best, riverine, margins. The swan is sitting resolutely on its nest- hopefully it will beat the next round of floods- and waiting to add to the size of the swan herd on the adjacent meadows.
Plants are coming through, and the early emergents are already being topped by trees and nettles. Less creeping than overwhelming.
The one bird that resolutely keeps to the creeping regime is the water rail. Skulking and sliding between reed stems, it has creeping down to a fine art. |
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