Thursday 26 November 2009

There were some good sunny spells for this afternoons walk - well for the first hour anyway, but as the sun started to go down, a large shower cloud came over and rain fell, by 15:30 I had to call it a day.

There were plenty of birds around the Small Holding again, BULLFINCH, CHAFFINCH, and GOLDFINCH all fed in various shrubs and berry bearing bushes, a GREEN WOODPECKER was on the floor below the pear trees, and two Jays screeched from an Oak. As I was just going into the wet woods I heard the trill of LONG TAILED TITS, I gave them a scan through, just in case something interesting was tagging along with them, but only found BLUE and GREAT TITS.

All was quiet in the wet woods, apart from a calling GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER, and a couple of scurrying MOORHENS, whilst the footpath leading to the lake area had a couple of GOLDCREST up in a conifer tree.

On to the lake, and what would I see today ? Not much is the answer, a lone CORMORANT was fishing there, but only two Moorhens and 8 MALLARD were seen, I think something or someone had already disturbed the area. I decided to go over to Migrant Alley, seeing a TREECREEPER, and a COAL TIT as I walked back into the wet woods.

Upon reaching Migrant Alley I could see the dark shower cloud looming overhead, so only 20mins was spent there, before the rain fell. The only birds of note were a couple of dozen BLACKHEADED GULLS and a MEADOW PIPIT sitting on the Greenhouse rooves.

So I still need four new species for the month, and just four more days to get them!

I took a few pics today, these are my efforts - in order of descending light!


Above: Male Chaffinch
Above and below : Coal Tit

Below: Meadow Pipit
Lastly a typical view of a TREECREEPER, as it moves round to the opposite side of the tree!






9 comments:

Oxonhoath Birds said...

Nice pictures of the coal tit warren. Only joking about the pic yesterday. Looked out for the egret today.

ShySongbird said...

I particularly liked the first Coal Tit photo.

You could still get the four!

Simon said...

Some really nice pictures today - especially like the Chiffinch

Greenie said...

Warren ,
Saw those shower clouds from New Hythe and called it a day .
Nice while the sun was out .

Lancashire and Lakeland Outback Adventure Wildlife Safaris said...

Hi Warren - can yuo tell us more about migrant alley - where does it go where does it lead from, why does it attract migrants. Looking at your google map and photos its not obvious why the birds are obviously attracted along it.

Thanks

D

Warren Baker said...

Dave,
I wish I new the answer to some of your questions!

As you can see by the map on my blog - (especially when you zoom in). Migrant Alley is Just a set of fields, Mainly Horse paddocks and sheep pasture, with the odd cultivated field. There is a footpath that runs through it, and some fields have only recently been planted with some hedgerows.

I have studied the area by looking at aeriel photos, and as you say it doesn't give any clues as to why so many Migrant species pass through the area.

I had an Idea that the large greenhouse complex might look like a body of water from the air, which might attract birds down, but I can only guess why this small area of open fields is so attractive to passing migrants.

eileeninmd said...

Great birds and photos.

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Warren: Neat Thanksgiving captures of the birds, oh that was our celebration.

Jann said...

Nice photos! I'm envious, I need a bird fix...hope to go out tomorrow. Glad you got a bit of sunshine.