Sunday 13 December 2009

This morning I was joined by two visitors for my patch walk, readers of this blog who wished to see my patch. We left at around 07:30, and quickly heard, or had glimpses of ROBIN, CARRION CROW, BLACKBIRD, WOODPIGEON and WREN as we walked down Ashes Lane. Walking through the tree nursery a SONG THRUSH was singing, and in the distance we could see the KESTREL hunting over the Greenhouses, one of many sightings of it! Also whilst there 4 CORMORANTS flew low over.

On leaving the tree nursery, and walking the hedgerow to Migrant Alley, we saw an Immature MUTE SWAN fly over, particularly pleasing as it was a new species for this month, a scarce bird on my patch.

Migrant Alley was quiet, but we did see a MEADOW PIPIT fly up, I heard a SKYLARK go over and a small flock of REDWINGS did the same. BLACK HEADED and HERRING GULLS were on the sheep pasture and college sports pitch, and passing through was another new species for the month a LESSER BLACK BACKED GULL.

The college grounds and gardens gave us MOORHEN, MALLARD, JAY, COLLARD DOVE and BULLFINCH for the day list, and our second visit to Migrant Alley, on the way back gave us a PHEASANT, GOLDFINCH and GREENFINCH.

The second part of the walk through the Small Holding and Wet Woods was relatively quiet, but PIED WAGTAIL, SISKIN, GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER, and a MISTLE THRUSH kept the daylist ticking over. As we were about to leave the Wet Woods, we found a feeding flock of mainly Tits, with a few siskin, but I then noticed a small bird scurrying up a tree trunk, I announced to my visitors that there was a Treecreeper ahead, but as I got my bins on it, I could see it was no Treecreeper, it was a female LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER ! fantastic sighting! Both my visitors got some fleeting sightings of it - a new bird for them, before it flew deeper into the woods.

The Lesser Spotted Woodpecker is a real scarce bird on my patch, it has been seen in six out of the 8 years of recording, involving less than a dozen sightings.

We carried on our walk over to the lake and scrubby area, but there wasn't anything new on the water, on the way back out of the scrub we did find a flock of LONG TAILED TITS, with COAL TIT, TREECREEPER, and a handsome male Bullfinch. We decided to go back into the wet woods to maybe get better views of the L.S. Woodpecker, but by now 3 unruly dogs were bounding about and yakking loudly, so we called it a day and made our way home.

45 species for the day, with 3 more additions to the December total was more than a good days work. I hope you enjoyed your walk of my patch Mr and Mrs P.!!

It was too gloomy for any pics this morning, so I got some more garden pics this afternoon.

Above: Great Spotted Woodpecker


Above: CHAFFINCH (Male) and below, a busy little BLUE TIT with a sunflower heart.

Lastly another mixture on the feeder, GREAT TIT, GOLDFINCH, GREENFINCH and HOUSE SPARROW.




10 comments:

Sharon said...

Sounds like you had a great patch walk today - lesser spotted woodpecker, nice one! I always love seeing photos of your feeder and the variety of birds you have on it.

Kelly said...

....how fun! I bet your guests had a treat with you as the guide. 45 species is wonderful, and I love your photo of the Great Spotted Woodpecker. I always love their markings.

Anonymous said...

You do get some very nice shots of your birds.

Anonymous said...

Another nice one, Warren. well done, mate. Lesser Pecker, that`d be a mega on my patch.

Pete Woodruff said...

Good to see you were able to guide two visitors to your blog around the patch Warren an excellent result for your blogging efforts.

LSW is also excellent and a bird now extinct from our area - it seems - and well beyond it if the truth be known.

The GSW will be on Birds2blog soon......nice one!

Ghost of Stringer said...

WOW !! Lesser spots are crackin birds, not seen one for years, don't get em up in these parts.....

Now I think we should set up some sort of exchange.... I'll send you down a twite or two and perhaps you could send me up a nuthatch or that lesser spot ?!!

Keep up the good work....

Lancashire and Lakeland Outback Adventure Wildlife Safaris said...

LESSER PECKER - I'll be knocking on your door at 7.30 in the morning for one off your more than superb guided walks!!!! Are you sure you haven't got a Cetti's lurking on the patch somewhere - they seem to be everywhere at the moment. North easterlies tonight could be something lurking tomorrow.

Cheers

D

Monika said...

Congrats on the lesser spotted woodpecker - how cool! That photo of the great spotted woodpecker is gorgeous!

Warren Baker said...

Stringer,
I'll gladly swap a Nuthatch for a Twite, i'll have to think about a LSW though!

Dave,
Next time you pass tonbridge, look me up!

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Warren: Love your woodpecker and its color on the underbelly.