Spring has Sprung

What a glorious weekend we had this Easter and the sunshine has certainly put a spring into the step of our wildlife. I have never seen so much activity, especially from our birds, both resident and migrant.
We were down in the Scottish Borders for Easter and the number of birds I saw (and heard) either gathering nest material or belting out their territorial songs was incredible. Allow me to share a few of these experiences with you:
Firstly at the caravan park in Peebles where a Nuthatch was gathering mud in order to prepare a nest hole:

Nuthatches nest in holes in trees, but unlike some birds which start with a small hole opening and widen it to suit their size, the Nuthatch will often start with a bigger hole opening and make it narrower by plastering mud around the edges until it matches their size. Hence the desire to collect mud at the start of the breeding season.
Next up is a little bird renowned for aggressively defending its territory. Whether it be against another bird, a sheep, a cow or in this case a human this little fighter will repel all intruders with a sharp burst of song delivered from a high vantage point...........it is of course the feisty Wren:

After a quick burst of song the Wren usually disappears into the safety of the undergrowth (just in case some of the bigger creatures actually take offence to being chided)
By comparison, high up in a nearby tree a male Blackbird shows off his prowess by singing his beautiful, melodic song in the hope that it will attract the attention of a female Blackbird:

These events were all happening in one small area of the caravan park but all over the site there was evidence that Spring had indeed sprung: from Rooks and Jackdaws flying with sticks to rebuild old nests; Blue Tits collecting moss to line their nests; Chaffinches singing in competition with one another; and the Daffodils bursting out all over:


Rosetta Burn & Daffodils

The place was buzzing, and in particular with huge queen Bumblebees which were bumbling along bumping into things in their search for a hole or crevice to nest in.

The next morning the sun was shining brightly in the clear blue sky as we took a trip along the magnificent Manor Valley just to the south-west of Peebles. Once again the signs of Spring were everywhere. At the start of the valley a colony of Common Gulls (which are not that common) were resting up in a field before searching for nest sites near a river, marsh or loch:

We drove on to the far end of the valley where we went for a walk along the edge of the Dollar forest. Here we were treated to the wonderful sound of a Song Thrush belting out its repetitive song of four distinct notes.
Then in another bush we saw a little Chiffchaff, newly returned from its Winter holidays in the Mediterranean (or there about) and it treated us to it's distinctive song. Some say it sounds like it is repeating its own name.....chiff chaff, chiff chaff, chiff chaff........others say it is calling chip shop, chip shop, chip shop........it depends how hungry you are!!
Anyway I failed miserably in getting a photo or a video of it, but here is one I took back in 2012 in Skinflats, the sound you will have to add yourself:

Chiffchaff

Moving on a bit we came across an opening in the trees which gave us a good view down the Manor Valley, so I snapped it:

Manor Valley from Dollar Forest

It was at this clearing another songster started up, belting his song out with all his might from the top of a conifer, it was of course everybody's favourite the Robin (unless of course you are a competing male Robin!):

Down on the valley floor the Manor Water winds its way past the imposing hills on its way to join the River Tweed:

Manor Water flowing through Manor Valley

This pebble-based river with its sandy banks proves an irresistible attraction to wading birds and gulls that like to nest in these upland valleys. One such species is the Oystercatcher and we were fortunate to see a whole bunch of these normally noisy waders nestling quietly along the banks of the Manor Water:

This is a far cry from their normal hustle and bustle lives as they feed along the shoreline of coasts and estuaries.
My final offering is a short clip of a male Chaffinch, resplendent in his breeding plumage admiring himself in the wing mirror of a parked car................. or so I thought............... but this has less to do with vanity and more to do with stupidity as he tries to attack his own reflection with obvious results:

Who needs Mad March Hares when you have Crazy April Chaffinches?

Happy Easter

Teddyeddieedward