Monday 14 March 2011

After a gloriously, crisp, and sunny morning, the skies turned a uniform grey for the afternoon patch walk, uncanny how many times that happens :-)

I spent 2 hours out, and visited the lake area, it wont be long now before I change the afternoon walk, and put the emphasis on Migrant Alley, the Pub Field and the Tree Nursery, hoping for some summer migrants to show, but for now the 'winter walk' continues. As soon as I entered the Small Holding today, I could hear the sound of REDWINGS, 40 - 50 of them were giving some sub song and generally chattering, it was quite something to hear them! Also in the Small Holding a GREEN WOODPECKER was seen, two JAYS screeched as they flew to the Wet woods, and the usual BLUE TITS, GREAT TITS, CHAFFINCH, and GREENFINCH were scattered around the area.

Nothing much happening in the Wet woods, just the sound of more Great and Blue Tits calling, but on the edge of the wood, just where I exit, is a large Oak tree, here I recorded 4 LONG TAILED TITS, 2 NUTHATCH, 4 GOLDFINCH, 2 GOLDCREST, plus a GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER.

The lakes were dismal today, although the COOTS were still around, so thats always a bonus :-) apart from them just 2 Moorhens were seen. Nearby some garden feeders were very active, with twp PHEASANT, and at least 20 Chaffinch, with probably 10 each of Goldfinch and Greenfinch all feeding, a COAL TIT was also seen here.

A quick walk round the scrub wasn't too productive, but a silver birch had a TREECREEPER and 2 SISKIN feeding on it. At least 4 BULLFINCH were seen/heard, and a couple more Long Tailed Tits were checking for nest sites in the brambles.

I had a cursory look round the Pub Field, Tree Nursery, and Migrant alley, but only came up with BLACK HEADED GULL, HERRING GULL, Corvids, WOOD PIGEONS, and a male Pheasant, but thats not surprising given all the disturbance over the weekend. I did find a Goldcrest in the Tall hedge behind my skywatching seat, probably the same individual seen last week. No sign of singing Chiffchaffs today :-(

Above: Pheasant at Migrant Alley

Above and Below: Siskin, from the Scrubby Woods. It wont be long before they all leave now, the latest date I have for them on my patch is the 13th of April, but the mean last date is the 24th March


7 comments:

Lancashire and Lakeland Outback Adventure Wildlife Safaris said...

If i see another pic of a siskin in someone elses garden I'll scream...what's wrong with my feeders?

Nice one

Cheers

Davo

Warren Baker said...

:-) Dave, at least this one wasn't at my feeders.

Greenie said...

Warren ,
I think you lost the sun even earlier than us today .
The Siskin population at Sevenoaks is tiny now to what it was .
Not just your lakes that are lacking interest at the moment .

Pete Woodruff said...

The sun waited until you finished work....TUT!

Nice Siskin pics Warren.

Bob Bushell said...

I love the Siskins, nice shooting Warren.

ShySongbird said...

I hate to tell you but we had glorious sunshine again all afternoon ;)

I would love to have heard the Redwings.

I thought about you this afternoon when just about all I could find was Coots, Coots and more Coots :)

Lovely Siskin shots!

Anonymous said...

My emphasis will be changing as well, Warren. I`ll be concentrating on the spoil heap whatever the weather, hoping for a returning Wheatear or two.