Sunday 30 November 2008

Conditions were much the same as yesterday, even a little worse! However an excellent species total of 49 was recorded, but actual numbers of birds wasn't great, with a good deal of the sightings being in singles or two's. Highlights for the day included, KINGFISHER seen in the college grounds, where a few REDWING were feeding on the lawns. The BARN OWL was seen at its roost, and a MARSH TIT was again heard in the wet woods, on the lake 2 CORMORANTS fished, along with a GREY HERON. In Migrant Alley a GREY WAGTAIL fed amongst the Manure heap, but the bird of the day was another new species for the month, in the form of a COMMON SNIPE, it was in the stubbles next to a new manure pile. GREYLAG and CANADA GEESE flew over, as did many SISKIN and a continuous stream of HERRING GULLS, all heading NW in small groups. As I neared home a few flocks of Redwing and FIELDFARE flew N.
So the final results for November were very encouraging. As I said yesterday the record November total of 57 species was blown away, and how, with this months total of 66! 4 species were new to any November, Stonechat, Barn Owl, Great Black Backed Gull, and Pochard. The combined total for all Novembers is now 75, with the mean total of species seen in November at 56.5.


Above: A flock of Canada Geese go over Migrant Alley, and below an Immature Herring Gull.

Below: The start of the Barn Owl box, I should have it finished this week. (yes I did build it in the kitchen, and yes I got moaned at! )



Saturday 29 November 2008

It never eally got light today, low cloud at spits of drizzle made it a dull walk round. I felt that I wasn't really seeing much, but at the end of the walk I had amassed 45 species, which isn't bad for a November morning. I suppose the fact that most species were only seen in one's and two's made it seem quiet, although there were small flocks of SISKIN in the wet woods, college garden, and by the greenhouse complex, with a flock of 20 or so GOLDFINCH seen by the stream behind the college grounds. Other notable species - a MARSH TIT in the wet woods, a CORMORANT, GREY HERON, and KINGFISHER at the lake, a REDPOLL over flew Migrant Alley, calling as it went, and the BARN OWL was at its roost. The weather looks like being wet again tomorrow morning, but i'll make an effort to get out, as it's the last walk round of the month, I might just get a new species for the month, Brambling or maybe that Teal in the wet woods. The November record species Total of 57 has been well and truly smashed - but i'll tell you how much by tomorrow!

Below : This shot is looking north, over the headland at migrant alley at 10:30, as you can see, it wasn't very pleasant!


Friday 28 November 2008

Virtually no birding was done today, it was raining when I went to work at 06:55, it was raining when I left work at 13:00 and its still raining as I write this at 16:00!! The only birds I noted as crossed the fields, were the 300 or so mixed corvid flock, gathering at the start of the day on their favoured pylon, and a flock of around 50 BLACK HEADED GULLS in some sheep pasture, seen as I got a soaking on the way home.
An hour spent watching the garden feeders didn't bring any surprises, again 17 species came to feed, but still no Dunnock, has the SPARROWHAWK had it ? There is a new species for the garden though, in the form of a brown rat, how cool is that ! As long as they don't become too many, I can live with them, no different from the squirrels. Hopefully this rain will stop overnight, and a decent walk round my patch can be made in the morning, we'll see!

Thursday 27 November 2008

It was dark when I left for work this morning, but as I passed through migrant alley, and on to the college sports pitch, a lone ROOK alighted on the power pylon, just visible in the first light of dawn, a few seconds later a dozen more came in, then in the distance I could make out the ''Jack'' ''Jack'' calls from a host of jackdaws. I stopped and waited, and as I looked into the now dimmly lit sky, 100+ corvids just appeared from the greyness, still more came, over a short period of time, they spread themselves along the power lines, quite something to witness.
This afternoon I walked over to the lake area, passing through the small holding, where a nice male BULLFINCH was seen, and a couple of GREENWOODPECKERS fed in the grassy areas. I went into the wet woods, where a small group of SISKIN fed above me in the Alder trees, but nothing else was noted there. At the lake 20 MALLARDS dabbled around, and a GREY HERON flew up and away, whilst I scanned the bank vegetation I got onto a KINGFISHER, which dived down into the water and caught a decent sized fish, it gave it a bash, as is customary, and turned it head first to swallow. A CORMORANT flew low over, and was about to alight on the lake, but it saw me and thought better of it.
I made my way over to migrant alley, and was pleased to see a good flock of FIELDFARE on the stubbles, around 50 were in a moving flock, with around 20 PIED WAGTAILS amongst them. I could hear SKYLARKS out in the stubbles and MEADOW PIPITS, but only 3 of the former and 1 of the latter were seen, just as I was leaving I saw a flock of 6 LINNETS come in to join them all, and a further 18 Linnet were seen as I passed the tree nursery on my way back, they were flying to and fro, waiting for the work party to leave, so they could roost in the thick shrubs. The last bird of note was a GREY WAGTAIL that flew from the greenhouse grounds, always nice to see.

Below: a few of the Mallard on the lake. All my other pics were worse than this, I blame the light!

Wednesday 26 November 2008

I didn't visit my patch this afternoon, as I had a dental appointment, but before I paid £60 for a the pleasure of a mouthfull of tubes and a lot of pain, I spent an hour watching the garden feeders. In between the SPARROWHAWK attacks, the garden was quite busy, 17 species were noted, but the usual Dunnock didn't turn up. 4 species of tit were coming and going at the sunflower hearts, BLUE, GREAT, COAL and MARSH TIT, and 3 finch species, GREEN, GOLD and CHAFFINCH. Just a maximum of 2 HOUSE SPARROWS and 2 STARLING were seen, the latter have only just been tempted in by the purchase of a bag of suet pellets, which also brought in 2 MAGPIES and a JACKDAW. A single ROBIN and BLACKBIRD, came and went once they had eaten, and 6 COLLARED DOVES vacuumed up the dropped seed. There are 4 GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKERS coming to the feeders, but only a maximum of 2 together, they have regular battles with the NUTHATCH over peanut feeder.
I was let down with the delivery of the ply wood for the owl box today, apparently it will be here tommorow (Get your finger out Dave!!)

Tuesday 25 November 2008

No sign of the BARN OWL this morning, but later this afternoon I did see it at its roost. That was about the only noteworthy sighting made. I didn't visit the lake and wet woods, as the dimented gardener was using a chainsaw - again! A walk round the fields at Migrant Alley was made in a cold wind, but it's with the northerly wind that different birds arrive on the fields, 16 LAPWING were feeding in the stubbles, but a careful scan didn't reveal any Golden Plover. At least 40 BLACK HEADED GULLS were busy, some feeding, some chasing Lapwings and some just hawking overhead. A small group of 7 FIELDFARE flew over, and 3 GREEN WODPECKERS made themselves known, but apart from that it was a quiet afternoon.

Above and below: A first winter Black Headed Gull


Monday 24 November 2008

I finished yesterdays post with the suggestion that I may ''go out after dinner'' Well I did, just for an hour, I went over to the maize stubbles at migrant alley, and was pleased to find 39 LAPWING, the first this month, with them was a large flock of BLACK HEADED GULLS, I counted over 120, also a small number of STARLNGS and the corvid flock were present.


Above: Lapwings, and below a mixture of lapwing, Gulls and Starlings
This morning I had the magical experience of watching the BARN OWL hunting! It was quartering the small field between Ashes lane and the maize stubbles, where the Raspberries are. This is just about the only field with the grass long enough to hold the prey of the Barn Owl, mainly mice and voles. A great start to the week.
Just over an hour was spent on my patch this afternoon, and in the strong biting wind very little was found. A GREY HERON and 5 MALLARD were on the lake, and 6 LONG TAILED TITS were in the bank vegetation. More Mallard were in the wet woods, along with the usual MOORHENS, but no Teal as yet. As I walked through the tree nursery to get to migrant alley, 6 LAPWING flew over. I was disappointed to find the small area of setaside that was to be found along the hedgerow, leading from the tree nursery to migrant alley, had had its fencing ripped out, and I was told it was being put back into crop production. It's only the size of a couple of tennis courts, but HADLOW COLLEGE have obviously fallen on hard times and need every last piece of ground to bolster their profit margins. That piece of setaside was probably good hunting ground for the Barn Owl, maybe the loss of it is why I saw the Owl where I did this morning. Talking of the Barn Owl, the plywood is arriving wednesday, so I can get on and build the nest box.
I spent 20 mins at Migrant Alley, but it was very quiet, only 1 MEADOW PIPIT, 2 LINNET and a single PIED WAGTAIL was noted.

Sunday 23 November 2008

An overnight frost had hardened all the mud around the fields, and frozen over the puddles, but it didn't feel particularly cold this morning, probably due to the lack of wind. It looked good for finding some Lapwing or maybe a Golden plover as I left the house, but within half an hour, sleet began to fall, the little pellets of ice made a hiss as they landed on the decaying crispy leaves, then it snowed for 20 mins, before turning to heavy showery rain. So in all that weather wha did I see ? well, not a great deal really, a LITTLE EGRET flew over the college grounds, following the stream, Where a large-ish flock of SISKIN were in the Alders, with half a dozen GOLDFINCH. A flock of 20 BLACKHEADED GULLS were on the sports pitch. A group of LONG TAILED TITS were also in the college grounds with a couple of GOLDCRESTS. Migrant alley was very quiet, no sign of yesterdays Stonechat, just a few LINNET and SKYLARK.
Once the rain started to fall, I headed for home, having only walked half the circuit. I don't mind the cold and snow, but the rain just makes it miserable!
In the Garden the cold weather had brought in many visitors to the feeders, The colours of the birds plumage are so much more enhanced by the background of snow. NUTHATCH, COAL TIT, MARSH TIT, SPARROWHAWK, and 3 GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKERS at the same time, were the more notable species, but at least 15 BLUE TITS, 5 GREAT TITS, 8 GREENFINCH, 11 COLLARED DOVES, 4 GOLDFINCH and the odd BLACKBIRD, STARLING and DUNNOCK all whizzed around the garden.......Hang on, the sun has just come out! Maybe i'll get a walk in after dinner!

Below - Sunrise over Pittswood, It started so promising!

Below - The Black Headed Gull flock on the college sports pitch, during the worse bit of the snow.


Saturday 22 November 2008

Events conspired against me yesterday afternoon, and no birding was possible, so I was keen to get out this morning. Some interesting species turned up first thing, a GREY WAGTAIL at the stream, behind the college, and a COMMON GULL on the college sports pitch are not regular sightings. A KINGFISHER was seen at one of the ponds in the college grounds, but the star bird for me, was a STONECHAT at migrant alley. Another new species for the month, and the only record of a winter Stonechat on my patch, a most unexpected sighting!
I met up with another birder, who had been in touch with me, and wanted to be shown round my patch, he only had time to see the wet woods and the lake area, and with our chatting and not concentrating to hard on the birds we didn't see that much, but GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKERS were present in the wet woods, along with GOLDCREST and a few SISKIN feeding in Alder trees. A GREY HERON was on the lake, and earlier I had seen 2 CORMORANT flying from here. After my visitor left, I walked back through the wet woods and located a LONG TAILED TIT flock, along with a TREECREEPER and a MARSH TIT, a pity they weren't seen a bit earlier! A good day list of 48 species was seen, and with a COAL TIT, and NUTHATCH at the garden feeders, an impressive total of 50 species for the morning was acheived.


Above: This was going to be a Marsh Tit photo, but it flew of as I was just going to click the button, So a BLUE TIT will have to do!


Above: Another poor effort at photographing a Kingfisher, but having said that, it's better than any previous attempts! You can just make out somthing in its bill, looks like a damselfly, surley a bit late for one though. What do you think Greenie? http://greenieinthewild.blogspot.com/

Thursday 20 November 2008

This afternoon there were a few birds about, notably GOLDCRESTS, I found at least a dozen on my walk, mostly in pairs, but a threesome were found by the lakeside scrub. The lake itself had a GREY HERON fishing on it, and 3 CORMORANT, as well as the usual MALLARDS and MOORHENS. A couple of BULLFINCH were calling from the scrubby orchard adjacent the lake, whilst above, a SPARROWHAWK circled over, sending out at least a dozen SISKIN that were feeding in a nearby Alder tree.
I cut through the tree nursery, and went on to Migrant Alley. A Large mixed corvid flock of at least 350 birds, again mostly ROOKS but there must have been 100 Jackdaws as well, at one point they all took of and settled on the power lines. I noted that the whole top power line was full of birds, from one pylon to the next, a distance of 250m, even at 2 birds a meter this suggests over 500 birds! In the stubbles 19 SKYLARK flew up, and as I walked the perimeter of the field, 11 LINNETS were seen and at least 12 MEADOW PIPITS, most of all however, were a flock of at least 120 PIED WAGTAILS. I counted 84, but couldn't see over the ridge, where there were more feeding, another SPARROWHAWK flushed them all up, and they went over onto the greenhouse rooves. I stayed around for another half hour, but nothing more of note turned up, and the gloom ended proceedings.


Above and below: One of the Goldcrest seen today. For those of you not familiar with this bird, it is britains smallest bird, at only around 9cm from tip of tail, to point of bill.
Below: A Pied Wagtail, in the now mown Maize stubbles.




Above is the first Sparrowhawk, which flew over the lake area. Below is the second one that flew over the stubbles.
Below is a photo of a section of the Pied Wagtail flock, I couldn't get them all in the frame. You may have to click on the pic. and enlarge it.
Below are some of the Rooks and Jacdaws on the power line. They were spread out at this density right along from one pylon to the next, with still more in the sky. Again I couldn't get the whole line in the frame.







Wednesday 19 November 2008

Light is dwindling fast when I walk into work now, another ten days and I reckon ill be walking in the dark. Today though, I did manage to see 28 GREY LAG GEESE, that were in the Maize stubbles, although I would of walked past them if the shepherds dog that was rounding up all the escaped sheep that had wandered into the stubble, hadn't flushed them all up!
I went over to the wet woods at 14:00, it was reasonably quiet, a TREECREEPER was with a group of 12 - 15 LONG TAILED TITS, and I could here one of the two MARSH TITS that are now wintering on my patch. A GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER called and tapped and a few MOORHEN were feeding around the pools. I didn't visit the lake, due to the disturbance from the gardener, instead I walked over to Migrant Alley, through the tree nursery - lots of work going on there so nothing was seen. More disappointment at Migrant Alley, for some reason a tractor was mowing the maize stubbles, a pointless task surley ? But then again I'm not a farmer, so there must be a reason. I stayed and watched anyway, just in case something flew over, but just corvids and one or two Gulls went past. Only the occasional MEADOW PIPIT was heard, and a flock of 7 LINNET and 6 SKYLARK flew off the stubbles as the tractor got to them. The only birds that didn't seem to mind the tractor were the PIED WAGTAILS, about 30 continued to forage, flying up and over the tractor as it passed. Dusk fell all too soon, and I headed home.I really do feel cheated on these shortened days!

Below is a photo of the sunset at Pittswood


Tuesday 18 November 2008

WRENS, ROBINS,SONGTHRUSH, MISTLE THRUSH, and DUNNOCK all sang this morning as I walked to work, no doubt some of them were already claiming there territories for the comming spring.
This afternoon was a bit brighter than yesterday, and my walk over to Migrant Alley was much more pleasant. A good size flock (for my patch) of YELLOWHAMMERS were along the fencline/new hedgerow, at least 24 flew out as I neared. The adjacent Maize stubble had a mixed flock of at least 20 each of SKYLARK, MEADOW PIPIT and LINNET. The next field on, sheep pasture, had a corvid flock numbering over 100, mostly ROOKS but maybe 20-30 JACKDAW as well.
A very quick walk over to the lake, through the tree nursery produced virtually no birds at all, a GREEN WOODPECKER and a PHEASANT, whilst at the lake a GREY HERON and 8 MALLARDS were seen. Not surprising really with all the work going on removing the young tree's, and the Gardener of the large house adjacent the lake, on a mission to chop down and burn every tree in the garden!
It was getting dark, but I thought i'd watch the sunset back over at Migrant Alley, I sat and watched the PIED WAGTAILS fly in to the Stubbles, then on to the green house rooves, later as I passed the green houses on my way home I counted 60+ flyover SW from there,towards Tonbridge. There was no entrance for the birds to gain access to roost in the greenhouses, and the ones that I saw trapped, or seemingly trapped, were no longer visible. I'll have a talk with the guy's who work there, and find out the situation re- letting out roosting birds.

Above: One of the Yellowhammers at Migrant Alley
Above: A Male BLACKBIRD in a Hawthorn.

Monday 17 November 2008

I set of for work in bright frosty conditions this morning, but it didn't last, by the time I headed home it was dull, dank and drizzly. I did hear a SONGTHRUSH singing this morning, as well as the ever cheerful ROBINS.
This afternoon's walk only lasted for a little over an hour, as it was just about dark by 15:45. I only had time for a walk round the fields of Migrant Alley, and little was seen. There were lots of BLACKBIRDS and some Songthrush, feeding in amongst the now uncovered polytunnels. These are adjacent to the greenhouses and are used to grow even more Raspberries, there are quite a few berries still left. The scrubby, brambles and long grss around the greenhouses had plenty of DUNNOCK and WRENS, and the maize stubble next to it had mostly SKYLARK feeding in it, I counted at least 15. I suspect there were a few LINNET out there to, but it was too gloomy to see, the occasional MEADOW PIPIT was heard there also. Again most of the PIED WAGTAILS were trapped in the Greenhouses, I don't know if they will be freed or not, I hope they are. Two flocks of JACKDAWS went over, 57 in one and 34 in another, they could of been going to a pre - roost site at the college buildings. Apart from that, the odd MISTLE THRUSH was seen, one singing lustily, despite the conditions, a PHEASANT flew up in front of me and a flock of 7 FIELDFARE flew over. Not a very inspiring afternoon, but thats how November is in this part of the world!

Below is a pic. of the leftover Raspberries, I hope they are left over winter, they might just attract something interesting down.

Sunday 16 November 2008

A mild and windless Sunday, and another good species count for the day, 45 in total, with GREY WAGTAIL, LITTLE OWL,FIELDFARE, KESTREL, and a flyover LITTLE EGRET, to add to yesterdays sightings. The weekends total came to a whopping 54, one more than for the whole of November 2006 and two more than November 2004! The only species I could have expected to find, but didn't, was a Redwing.
Despite the good species count today, I didn't see any Linnet at Migrant alley, and there were fewer MEADOW PIPITS, 20-30 PIED WAGTAILS were trapped in the greenhouses, the automatic window system hadn't yet opened to let them out. The large feeding flock in the wet woods was again located, but I didn't find a Treecreeper, or any Redpoll with them today. SISKIN were in almost every alder tree I looked in, occasionally a few GOLDFINCH were with them. Another songster joined the ones I heard yesterday, a DUNNOCK, it was a pleasure to listen to.

The above ROBIN came up to me so close I could have reached out and touched it, so close in fact, I had to back away to take this picture.
Above and below: A Little Owl, it flew from the shack that the Barn owl uses, which wasn't at home today.



Below: Two Mute Swans again flew over. I think they must surely be the same two as yesterday


Lastly a ROOK one of 50+ that were feeding on the college sports pitch.






Saturday 15 November 2008

This morning was mild and virtually windless, a day so benign, it felt like it had been borrowed from late spring. As I left for a 4 hour walk, I heard song from MISTLE and SONG THRUSH as well as ROBIN, which backed up the days spring like feel. Highlights from my walk, were 15 YELLOWHAMMER at migrant alley, flitting between the stubble and a hedgerow, with them was a REED BUNTING, whilst watching these, a new species for the month flew over - two MUTE SWANS, a common enough bird, but a real treat on my patch. A KINGFISHER flew across the college grounds, and a few yards further a SPARROWHAWK did the same. A Large flock of SISKIN, over 100 strong was feeding in the alders along the college stream.
I'd noticed earlier a small flock of MALLARD fly from the wet woods/lake area, and when I got to the lake I found why they had been flushed, two fishermen were fishing the smallest lake. I hope this isn't going to become a regular thing. Walking back through the wet woods I located a large feeding flock of birds, there were at least 16 LONG TAILED TITS with the usual followers, BLUE and GREAT TIT, as well as a TRREECREEPER, a COAL TIT and a MARSH TIT. I went into the tree nursery, and followed the edge of the woods, where again the feeding party crossed my path, I stopped and watched them fly from the woods and into the sapling trees, this time I noticed at least two REDPOLL with them, nice to see them on my patch instead of flying over it! I checked to see if the BARN OWL was at home, which it was, and as I left for home a pair of CORMORANT flew over, the 48th species for the day, another good November day total, which could easily gone to more than 50 had Fieldfare, Redwing or Kestrel showed up. I did get a NUTHATCH in the garden to bring the total to 49.
All that activity with the feeding flock, and I still didn't manage a picture! So I took some garden bird pics while the sun shone.

Above. A DUNNOCK, and below a MAGPIE
A GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER at his personal feeder!


Blue and great Tit on the suet.


Below is one of the 13 COLLARED DOVES that came in
Number 49 for the day, a NUTHATCH


I am always pleased to see one of these nowdays, HOUSE SPARROWS are venturing to the feeders less and less.

another lover of the suet blocks are GREAT TITS

A Blue Tit having it's turn

A COAL TIT watches for a space at the sunflower hearts


This handsome CHAFFINCH picks up any dropped sunflower hearts
One of the garden GOLDFINCH'S. This one was singing in the sunshine


last of all The MARSH TIT, it's hard getting a pic. of these, they don't hang about.













Friday 14 November 2008

The sun was out today, and it felt warm as I walked home from work, however, it only remained sunny until I left for my walk, as soon as I left the front door it clouded over and became gloomy, I must have been bad in a previous life!
I visited the Maize stubbles at migrant alley first of all, there were only small numbers of LINNET, MEADOW PIPIT, and PIED WAGTAIL, but nothing out of the ordinary was seen. I walked the hedgerow up to the tree nursery, and looked over into the shack, but there was no Barn Owl home. My next destination was the wet woods and lake area, via the tree nursery, despite the absence of bonfires, there was not much happening, not that I expect to see much change at this time of year, especially during the afternoon. A dozen or so MALLARD were at the lake, with a GREY HERON. As I waited for something to 'drop in' I heard BULLFINCH, GOLDCREST, and TREECREEPER call, and a small flock of BLUE TITS fed above where I stood. It was getting gloomy by 15:30, so I made my my back home, going through the tree nursery again, I stopped whilst there and watched the sky, I counted a tight flock of 35 Linnets, wheeling round, waiting to come into roost, they were waiting for the work party to finish lifting the trees. I watched them wheel around for another ten minutes, then at last, they fell like stones into some dense bushy saplings. I scanned the horizon and noticed a KESTREL atop a fir tree, and whilst picking my way through the deep liquid mud that was the footpath, a SPARROWHAWK flew past no more than a foot of the ground, just a yard in front of me, I think these hawks just like to tease me! No pics today, it was just too gloomy.

Thursday 13 November 2008

I was looking foward to getting out for an hour or so this afternoon, but another bonfire right in the middle of the stubbles at Migrant Alley put pay to that area. I got home and had a quick snack, and headed off out for the wet woods and lake area, only to be foiled again by another bonfire, this time the gardener at the big house next to the lake was the culprit. Thick smoke drifted through the woods, as he was tiping load after load of wet leaves on a smouldering fire. Needless to say, I didn't see anything worthwhile, I cut through the tree nursery, not expecting much there, as a work party was lifting trees, but at least a small party of REDWING were seen feeding on hawthorn berries.
I was back home within the hour, and it was already getting dark. I took some more photo's of the garden birds, but it was to gloomy for it really.
I did notice a real drop in the bird activity from yesterday, so I decided to call it a day, and make myself useful by dismantling the feeders and giving them a good clean. The reason for the drop off in bird activity became clear, when I found a pile of Blackbird feathers on the lawn, yep, the SPARROWHAWK was back. They are clever little blighters, they leave the garden alone for a day, allow all the birds to become more confident, then, bang! in it comes and makes a kill. If the hawk makes a kill on a feeder, the finch's wont use that feeder for days, even if I move it.

Below are some of the pics that turned out relatively well. More GREENFINCH and GOLDFINCH and a waiting BLUE TIT


Below : A Goldfinch waiting for it's turn on the Sunflower feeder

Below: A GREAT TIT ''Bashing away'' at a sunflower Heart





Wednesday 12 November 2008

I was late coming from work today, that and the fact the gas people were in Migrant Alley surveying (again) and sticking little red flags along the pipeline route, meant there wasn't much point in walking my patch. So I indulged myself by sitting and watching the birds at my garden feeder, no counting, no stats just watching and taking lots of pics. Well I did count a little bit! 17 species came in, and the first SISKIN to come to the garden this autumn were seen, also a LITTLE OWL called from one of the large gardens adjacent to mine, the first recorded this month.
Below are some of the pics I took, in the hour before dusk fell. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.

Above: Back end of a COAL TIT.
Above and below CHAFFINCH, Male below Female above.


Below is a feeder full of finch's The top two are GOLDFINCH the rest are GREENFINCH
Below is a smart Male Greenfinch

Below are 3 pics of GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKERS, all with rings on. The top bird is a male. (Red spot on back of head) the bottom bird is a female.




Below: a COLLARED DOVE


Above and Below BLUE TITS

Below: MARSH TIT.

Below : A mixture of Goldfinch and Greenfinch
Below: A NUTHATCH, Blue Tit, Chaffinch on the wing and the green blurr to the left is a Greenfinch