Lockdown update 1 - Yarrow Meadows

So, lockdown first of all meant stay local. This has been great in that it has been an opportunity to really explore my local patch.

Through the first part of spring this meant the arrival of migrants. Blackcap and Chiffchaff came first, before Sand Martin started prospecting the river banks.

Is it because of exploring the local area more, or is it just a good year for summer birds? Over the next couple of months on Yarrow Meadows and the fields surrounding were Whinchat and Redstart, Hobby on three occasions, 3 Garden Warbler, 3 pairs of Whitethroat, 9+ pairs of Blackcap and Chiffchaff. Resident birds were well represented - Grey Wagtail, Dipper, Kingfisher, Bullfinch, Little Grebe and Mandarin all breeding. Another highlight was watching the Buzzard family take their first flight - 3 young this year.

House Martin are doing well on my estate. At least 7 active nests, and yesterday evening there were 30+ birds over the playing fields.

As well as birds, other flora and fauna have done well. Credit to YVCP for their clearance work a few years ago on the two small ponds on Yarrow Meadows. Dragonflies have been excellent with Broad-bodied Chasers being particularly show-off. Emperor, Four Spotted Chaser, Banded Demoiselle, Azure, Common Blue, Blue-tailed and Large Red Damselfly as well.

Lockdown has also meant being able to see the changing colours of the flowers on the meadows. From the Lesser Celandine and Ramsons, through the beautiful Bluebells, and more recently the Orchids. Two meadows have been spectacular for Orchids with many hundreds of Common Spotted Orchid, as well as smaller numbers of Southern and Early Marsh, and many hybrids too.

Finally, Simon got a moth trap at Christmas. As the seasons have progressed the quality and quantity of moths has improved. Poplar Hawk and Garden Tiger have flown through and missed the trap, but some great named moths trapped this year 😀

Fingers crossed for some hawk moths in the trap soon.
So, lockdown has had its positives. It has been great to watch the commoner things up close and personal. Also, it has been great to bump into some scarcer wildlife that makes me realise how lucky I am to have Yarrow Meadows and Common Bank Lodge as my local patch.