...in the Garden of England...
Ditton Quarry Local Nature Reserve - Birds in May
(Refer to location map at page bottom)
Common whitethroats are the most noticeable new visitor at the start of May, flitting to the tops of shrubbery and brambles, throats bulging out as they deliver their scratchy song. Look in the more open areas of the quarry (3).
Lesser whitethroats can be seen later, skulking in the less open shrubs on the east side of the quarry (2), their rattling call usually gives them away. Other members of the warbler family will be in full song, and are most easily found in the shrubbery at the southern end of the quarry (4).
Chiffchaffs that arrived at the end of March will still be calling out their monotonous ‘chit-chat’ from high up in the trees. Blackcaps (below) will be lower down in the shrubs, giving out a more fluty call, and although restless you stand a good chance of seeing a male with his striking black-cap or female distinguished by her rusty red-brown cap (2,4).
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Watch out for House Martins feeding or collecting mud to built their nests on houses in the adjacent housing estates and the arrival of the Swifts which will swoop, scythe-like overhead. |
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Blackbirds (left) and Thrushes (right) will be in full song, and can be heard especially well in the evening. |
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Green Woodpeckers can often be found feeding on the short grass in the more open areas (1,3).
A Nightingale has also been reported in the past (4), but not recently. Listen for Cuckoos, or the gentle purring of Turtle Doves.
Text by Adam Whitehouse.
All photos credit to RSPB. Quarry overhead photo credit ackowledged.