NETHERFIELD AND GUNTHORPE + DCW
With a much improved weather forecast since Sunday we wandered the western side of Netherfield Lagoons once again with the tape lure for Willow Tit and once again, no response was found. The sunshine was enough to bring out a Small Tortoiseshell and we spotted two more at Gunthorpe before a dark cloud blotted the sun out and the chill of the 6°C set in.
More Marsh-marigold Caltha palustris near Gunthorpe Bridge, but this one looked more like the garden cultivar with bigger leaves and flowers than the wild plant. Later, we spotted some on an island that looked more like the native form.
A new location for Greater Chickweed Stellaria neglecta followed. This is a scarce and overlooked plant and quite rare in Notts.
During much of the day, dozens of Black-headed Gulls were hawking over the pits for what appeared to be an emergence of chironomids. These are non-biting midges and, needless to say, small, so the energy expenditure in picking off such morsels seems high. Perhaps slow gliding flight is so efficient that a nutritious midge now and again is worth it.
At the pit nearest the village, Bogbean Menyanthes trifoliata was waking up for the spring. It is another scarce plant in Notts but which has been present here for many years.
My first Sand Martins and Willow Warbler and a Cetti’s Warbler were at Netherfield and Blackcap and Chiffchaff song accompanied us throughout the day. Dave heard a Golden Plover at Gunthorpe.