Monday 23 February 2009

A new week, but the same lead grey skies! I nearly left the camera at home this afternoon, but when you do that something always turns up! Well something did turn up, a real rarity for my patch............a COOT (72), not a rare bird really, but on my patch it's a real find, just one, maybe two records a year if i'm lucky. On the lake with it, were 6 CANADA GEESE, and some very active MALLARDS (if you know what I mean ). The usual fare was to be had in the wet woods, GOLDCREST, MARSH,COAL,BLUE, GREAT, and LONG TAILED TIT, SISKIN and NUTHATCH. I took my normal walk over to Migrant Alley, just to sit and watch for half an hour or so, and observed 12 SKYLARK on the new spread manure, as well as 12 STOCK DOVE, a good number here for this species. Just one flyover species of note - a lone CORMORANT, the first since Feb. 11th.

Below is the much appreciated Coot, always a bit of a worry wether I will get one on the year list! It's not a very good pic. but I just wanted to show it off, being such a scarce visitor to my patch!


9 comments:

Oxonhoath Birds said...

I recognise that COOT Warren, its off my Patch

Greenie said...

Warren ,
Now you've got your Coot , what are we going to rag you about now .
Mind you , from this distance it looks stuf... , no , you wouldn't , would you ?

Warren Baker said...

Oxon. Birds,
It's MINE now, naff off!

Greenie,
It's a real 100% Coot. All mine.

Steve said...

I'm with Greenie - I saw one just like that in Maidstone Museum.....

lee said...

Hello Warren, thats not a coot, your not fooling us ,you've got the white paint out on that poor old morhen,you only had to ask we've got about 200 of them over here. perhaps i should do the same to a Goldcrest, make it into firecrest,thinking about it are you sure you got a firecrest.

Warren Baker said...

Now look you lot - It's a real, living, breathing, COOT. You're all jealous because you can't find your own rarities.

lee said...

have you put it on R.B.A. yet Warren.

Kelly said...

...congrats on the Coot!!

Ken. said...

Hi Warren. Good shot of the Coot. Great record for you. I can't understand why your taking all that stick from your so called buddies... Although.. It does resemble one of those cuddly,squeeky toys I saw at Dunge the other week!!