Tuesday 14 December 2010

Upon leaving for work this morning, I picked up a new species for the month when a LITTLE OWL (63) was heard calling, very pleasing :-) However, once at work, the tedium of the morning was blown away when I spotted no fewer than 35 Waxwings as I was unlocking the main gate. As more people arrived at the school the Waxwings moved to a large silver birch tree right outside my office! They were attracted by the water that had gathered on the schools flat roof, where I watched them drinking and bathing for a good hour FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!! The pleasure was bitter sweet though, as the school is 200m off my patch - Doh!!!

So it was with renewed enthusiasm that I wandered over to the lakes and scrub area this afternoon, I scanned every leafless tree and bush, but alas, no waxwings on my patch :-( In fact there was very little to report at all, the lakes are still hard frozen, and I didn't find a mixed feeding flock today, and that knocks a big whole in the species seen!

I did find a nice flock of 9 LESSER REDPOLLS feeding in a silver birch tree adjacent to the main lake, and with them were two SISKIN. A NUTHATCH was busy going to and fro from the nearby garden with the feeders, which also attracted the regulars, BLUE TIT, GREAT TIT, GREENFINCH,GOLDFINCH and CHAFFINCH mainly. A KESTREL was hunting over the scrub, but a look through the area didn't turn up the hoped for Woodcock for the months list.

I had a short look around the Tree Nursery, and Pub Field, scanning the large adjacent gardens as I went, just in case a Waxwing was lurking, but it wasn't, only 4 PHEASANTS and a handful of BLACK HEADED GULLS were seen, plus a low flypast from the male Sparrowhawk.

Again no photo's today, even in the sunshine the birds aren't particularly co-operative at the moment :-) Tomorrow is Xmas dinner for the school pupils, so i'll be late home, so wont have time to get out, just be a garden watch for an hour - Waxwing perhaps! ?

16 comments:

Adam said...

Have you considered redefining your patch border?! Well done...and bad luck. Fingers crossed for tomorrow.

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Warren Baker said...

Adam.....it did cross my mind, but only briefly :-)

Phil said...

Bad luck Warren but it's only a matter of time!

Derek Faulkner said...

Seems that the only place in Kent that you can't see Waxwings at the moment is Sheppey.
Never mind there were 80 Whitefronts and 2 Pinkfeet along the Harty Road this morning.
Will you be Father Christmas tomorrow then Warren.

Greenie said...

Warren ,
So near , yet so far .
Good luck .

Bob Bushell said...

Warren, at last the Waxwings. It's worth changing your destination of (your patch plus).

Derek Faulkner said...

Warren,
what you needed was a dog walker to flush them over to your patch.

Surely if you count a bird flying over high then its OK to include birds the same distance away in another direction.

Warren Baker said...

Derek - No I bloody well wont - Bah Humbug :-(

Marc Heath said...

So near, if you don't get any by the end of the year, extend that boundary.

Pete Woodruff said...

Good to see you had the Waxwings at last Warren. It sounds like the 'icing on the cake' is that they appear in/on your patch....and soon.

Sharon said...

Are there any jobs going in your place? I'd give anything to have Waxwings outside my office! 200m is nothing really :)

Paul said...

Hi Warren, Its great that those Waxwings are finally coming inland!Ironically I was working in Hadlow today, very close to the school too, but despite me constantly looking skyward, I didnt see them. Im in the area tomorrow, so fingers crossed I might get to see my first Waxwing?
If you get a spare couple of minutes, could you please checkout my new blog, cheers, Paul.

FAB said...

Time to hang out the fruit and crab apples Warren then I'm sure they will cross the border!

Anonymous said...

I`m with everyone else Warren. Seeing that you spend so much time at work and with it being a stones throw away, incorporate it into your patch.

Lancashire and Lakeland Outback Adventure Wildlife Safaris said...

Do what we've done Warren - two patches - home and work - but then never the twain and all that...

Cheers

Davo

You not manage to struggle out of that santa Suit? Missed a day...WOW

Jann said...

I had no idea you worked at a school, doing what I don't know still, but I'd been wondering 'what' work was...anyway, good luck with the woodcock, and congrats on hearing the little owl and seeing the waxwings. :o)