As we head into May, many of our summer visitors have already arrived. The swallows turned up in the village in the first week of April, as they have done for many years. However, they were rapidly followed by the first house martins and swifts, a week or two earlier than usual. Hopefully the swifts will return to their established roosts around the Square and have a successful breeding season. Another early arrival was the chiffchaff, with its unique song. For the first time I had a closeup view of one through a window and was surprised to see just how small it was – not a lot bigger than a goldcrest. Many village garden feeders have seen a lot of redpolls this year – again, an exquisite bird with a lovely red ‘crest’. Unusually, our feeders have been visited by a reed bunting which is presumably nesting in the reserve behind the fire station. Another welcome sighting has been of many blackcaps around the village, singing beautifully.
Early May should see the return of the cuckoos. In recent years we seem to have had two or three in the valley, and I always look forward to hearing the first one calling.
Comments