Saturday 28 January 2012

A mix of cloudy and sunny periods this morning, however it was a bit cooler than of late as I started out, this didn't deter the early songsters of MISTLETHRUSH, SONGTHRUSH, WREN, ROBIN and DUNNOCK though, making for quite a lively dawn chorus  :-)

I visited the lake area first thing, via the Small Holding and Wet Woods, collecting all the regular common species, but again missing out on Little Owl for my year list. The Little Grebe wasn't seen on the water today, but it could have been hiding up as it often does. The three COOTS were very obvious though, and a GREY HERON fished from the shallows, once again a KINGFISHER surprised me, flying off as I approached its perching place, the six CANADA GEESE seen yesterday were still present with a few MALLARD and the MOORHENS had increased to eight birds, all tail flicking and posturing in readiness for the spring  :-)  In the surrounding Scrubby Woods, the likes of GOLDCREST, LONG TAILED TIT, COAL TIT, TREECREEPER, NUTHATCH, BULLFINCH and both GREEN and GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER were all found.

The Pub Field and Tree Nursery didn't give me anything for the daylist, but crossing through the Greenhouse Complex and the associated small copse there, a dozen FIELDFARE were noted, as were the first GOLDFINCH and SISKIN of the day, another two Treecreepers were also seen well. Crossing Migrant Alley to get to the College Grounds, three HERRING GULLS, and two CORMORANTS were seen going over, and the KESTREL flew towards the Greenhouse Complex - its preferred hunting place  :-)

The College Grounds gave me more Bullfinch, Siskin, Goldcrest and Coal Tit as well as the more common CHAFFINCH, GREENFINCH, plus the BLUE and GREAT TITS in good numbers, my second Kingfisher of the day also showed up on one of the ponds.

The leisurely walk back homewards, added COMMON GULL to my days sightings as it flew over the Sports pitch with 20 or so BLACK HEADED GULLS, also a COMMON BUZZARD slowly circled over Migrant Alley. In all a very pleasant 3 hours out, with 44 species turning out for me, but still no additions to the year/months list. With just one more full patch walk to go, this months species total looks like going down as the fifth best for January, two more new species would take it to fourth, something to aim for  :-)

Common Gull - My first flight shot of this species on my patch, one for my archives  :-)
Common Gull
Great Tit
BLACKBIRD, Female This is probably the same bird as featured in yesterdays post
Blackbird, female
Lastly - A taste of spring. This was one of five Crocus' that were in bloom in my garden, defying the talk of some siberian weather headed for us for next month, I think nature knows better whats ahead weather wise than we do  ;-)


9 comments:

Alan Pavey said...

Let's hope you find something new tomorrow :-)

Millhouse Photography said...

Lovely blackbird Warren - the female of the species is beautiful too eh!

Greenie said...

Warren ,
Snap with the Common Gull , got it on the Garden Watch .
Congrats on the archive shot .

Bob Bushell said...

Beautiful Crocus, doesn't it know that it is turning colder again?

Marc Heath said...

There is always tomorrow Warren, a good selection nontheless for the day, many I would be pleased with.

Pete Woodruff said...

Love the pic of the Crocus in your garden Warren, what a lovely sight showing us the early signs of spring....can't wait.

Anonymous said...

We`ve had these mild January`s before, Warren. Leading everything into a false sense of security and then to be caught out by a cold snap.

Jason K said...

Well done on the Common Gull shots Warren...an excellent capture mate

ShySongbird said...

The Blackbird shots are really lovely Warren! So nice to see the Crocus but I do wonder if we may all be getting a little too complacent and if February might have a bit of a kick back in store for us.