Thursday 7 January 2010

The very cold frosty, and sometimes snowy weather continues to be a problem over my patch. Very little bird activity is being noted, except at my garden feeders, where plenty of Finch's and Tits continue to feed.

I did get some broken visits to my patch, one was whilst walking home from work, when I was pleased to see my second SNIPE of the month fly over the College grounds. I had another 1 hour visit between snow showers, I walked round the Greenhouse Complex grounds, and through the small copse, but little was seen, apart from a flock of 20 GOLDFINCH'S, a glimpse of a SPARROWHAWK and views of the KESTREL as it tried to find something to eat in the harsh conditions.

Later in the afternoon I met up with a fellow birder over at the Lake area, we set of for the edge of the wet woods and into Marchants field for a spot of Skywatching, which turned out to be quite productive, FIELDFARES were moving through the area, as well as REDWING and the usual WOODPIGEONS and JACKDAWS, but a sighting of another two SNIPE was very welcome - 3 for the day, thats an all time peak count! Another sighting made the trip out in the freezing cold more bearable when the years first GREY LAG GOOSE (56) flew over. As it grew nearer dusk we watched the gathering of the LINNETS as they formed up to go into roost, probably over 100 birds were seen, and the Kestrel was nearby hoping, maybe, to snack on one!

Below are some snowy scenes from around my patch






8 comments:

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Warren: Gray skies are a cameras nemesis. You got one really neat field photo in the end.

swatson said...

love the first photo Warren very atmospheric with the grey trees in the background.

Sharon said...

Wow, 3 Snipe in the one day?! I'm having to walk to work at the mo due to very icy roads and all I noted was a Blackbird & Robin this morning! Maybe Irish birds get up later :-)

JPT said...

I know it's not good for birds but I do just love the snow.

Chris said...

OK now you are definitively getting much more snow than us!!! It still getting strange weather here cold in the morning and almost raining in the afternoon!!!! Congrats on the greylag goose! There are still there but very difficult to see nowadays!

Phil said...

Warren
I'm getting fed up with the weather now, enough is enough!
Very little to be seen today, I guess a lot of the birds have moved in to gardens judging by the activity in mine at the moment. Can't say I blame them. Nice to get the snipe though, every cloud as they say....
Phil

Anonymous said...

Warren, hang on in there mate. I feel a cold weather movement species turning up to grace your patch.

Greenie said...

Warren ,
You seem to have had the worst of the snow for a change .
Great record with the Snipe .