Monday 4 January 2010

Back to work today, but a nice surprise on the walk in this morning. As I got over the stile, to cross Migrant Alley, a COMMON SNIPE (55) was heard, I strained to try to locate it against the eastern sky but failed. This is a decent species to get on my patch, as they only ever just pass through, and it's not every year I find one for the year list.

This afternoon I wondered which part of my patch to visit, knowing that the lake would be frozen solid after another hard frost last night, it seemed a waste of time going there. However I am a glutton for punishment, and off I set through the small holding and wet woods then onto the lake - which was frozen solid with not a thing on it :-) It wasn't all a waste though, I did find NUTHATCH, COAL TIT, TREECREEPER, GOLDCREST and GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER on the way. I keep scanning the tree's in the wet woods for that Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, but without luck so far, it's these rarely seen birds that I'm going to have to find if I'm going to beat last years total of 109!

By now the temperature had dropped below freezing, and it was only 15:00hrs, I could feel the cold biting into my cheeks, I thought i'd set off for Migrant Alley, to see if anything would flyover. Not a great deal did! Two Meadow Pipits, a few STARLINGS, a JAY, and a few FIELDFARE, a scan of the far sheep pasture revealed a lone LAPWING and an even farther scan of the Tower at hadlow village (off my patch) showed that the Peregrine was sunning himself on the warm side of the tower.

Just a couple of photo's today, above yet another Treecreeper, they are the only birds that are showing well enough to photograph!

Below: Well you'll have to have good eyes to see this, if you look at the right hand side of the tower, where it steps down from the top, right at the edge you may be able to see a spec. - that's a peregrine that is!


12 comments:

Chris said...

Wow you have good eyes to see the peregrine so far away! Well done... 55, not bad for a beginning of the year and only 3 days!!! You will probably beat some records again this year ;-)

Phil said...

Blimey Warren,who's got the sharpest eyes, you or the peregrine?!
Phil

Greenie said...

Warren ,
I believe you !

Ken. said...

Hi Warren.
Good spot to get the peregrine.
Definately a male, wouldn't you say?
As or my Halling year list. Last year I had 74. it probably could be more, but I can't do the hilly part of Halling, over the back as in places it it too steep for me. Perhaps I will try harder this year.

Lancashire and Lakeland Outback Adventure Wildlife Safaris said...

55 is more than half of 109 in just 3 days! What are you going to do for the rest of the 359 days this year?

Keep up the good work - I'm sure the Lesser Pecker will fall

Cheers

D

darrell j prest said...

very nice treecreeper

Sharon said...

I can't believe you've reached the halfway point of last years total already - well done! Sounds like you can afford to take it easy for a few days!

Steve said...

Nice one with the Snipe Warren. Keep 'em peeled for a Jack as the weather gets colder and colder....

Pete Woodruff said...

Birding on the way in to work......now that's what I call a dedicated birder Warren, great stuff!

I'm thankful for an excellent eyesight (but not for reading the paper's and watching the television) but I see your Peregrine Falcon quite easily.

FAB said...

I zoomed & aquinted....I won't argue with you. Good spot Warren.

I suppose I had better go out locally very soon and see if I can find anything!!

Kelly said...

...snaps on the Common Snipe! ...and I could see the falcon, but I would never have seen it if you hadn't pointed it out! I love you treecreeper photo--one of my favorite birds!

Anonymous said...

Well done with the Snipe, Warren.

Regards your comment about the Treecreeper. You`re doing better than me, i`m struggling to hit anything with the camera. Roll on the Inverts.