Friday 23 March 2012

The stunning spring sunshine continues! It was even warmer today than yesterday, all very nice, but we need some rain eventually, otherwise the wildlife will suffer.

In the warmth of the sunshine, I made a visit to the Tree Nursery, again I was on the lookout for Migrants, maybe a Wheatear or Stonechat, even a  flyover Sand Martin or Swallow, but none were found today, it was down to the DUNNOCKS, and GREEN WOODPECKERS to keep me amused, a MEADOW PIPIT flew over though, and the KESTREL was seen up hunting.

I then moved on through the Greenhouse Grounds, where it seemed just like a hot July afternoon, when everything goes quiet and seeks shelter from the heat of the afternoon, the only things seen were the BLACKBIRDS. On to Migrant Alley, and a walk of the paddocks and sheep pasture was had, the first thing noticed was a COMMON BUZZARD circling, yet again though there were no Migrants to be seen, but i'm sure i'll get at least one here before the months end, another two Buzzards were watched soaring over, apart from those it was a case of CARRION CROWS, WOODPIGEONS, ROOKS, the odd STARLING and a Green Woodpecker. The wooded headland to the north of the paddocks was checked, and a CHIFFCHAFF was heard to sing, also a pair of LONG TAILED TITS were seen in dense bushes, probably nest building, and two MISTLE THRUSHES flew low over.

I returned to my seat for a skywatch, finding a pair of LINNETS along the hedgerow thats runs behind my seat, the skywatch produced PIED WAGTAIL, BLACK HEADED and HERRING GULL, a brilliant view of the Kestrel hunting, alas just out of camera range though, and 3 STOCK DOVES, not a sniff of a Swallow or Sand Martin  :-(

On the way home I had some good views of a GOLDCREST, and got my best Goldcrest photo's to date ( well I think so!) also another Buzzard or one of the same ones seen earlier flew low over the lane, I got a photo but it was into the light, and I was in peril of being mown down by the speeding cars as I pointed the big lens skywards from the middle of the lane!!  :-)

Lots of photo's coming, so you might want to get a cuppa!
Goldcrest
Goldcrest
Goldcrest
Goldcrest
Dunnock
Dunnock
Wren
Wren
Linnet
Common Buzzard

13 comments:

Marianne said...

Oooh, fantastic Goldcrest pics! The rest aren't too shabby either :) It's been a great day, and the weekend's looking good too.

Anonymous said...

100% stunning Goldcrest shots, Warren.

Lancashire and Lakeland Outback Adventure Wildlife Safaris said...

Re crest n wren - you glue em down? If not how did you get em to stay still enough to get shots like those?

Cheers

Davo

Warren Baker said...

Thanks Marianne, Dean and Davo, It takes some time and patience to get the photo's, but most of all it's the great light levels at the moment that makes the difference, and as Marrianne says, more sunshine for the weekend :-)

Ken. said...

Warren.
I surrose those photo's are not too bad.....I am only kidding Warren, they are terrific. The Goldcrest shots are really good, it's a great little birdb but personally I like the 1st Dunnock photo the best.
Have a good weekend.

Warren Baker said...

Cheers Ken,
Just about to read your blog for today :-)

ShySongbird said...

WOW!! Those Goldcrest photos are fantastic Warren. My favourite is the last but one. Lovely photos throughout though:-)

The sun here for the last two days has been rather hazy but I'm not complaining, considering it's still only March it really is lovely :-)

Warren Baker said...

Hi Songbird,
Do you reckon we will pay for all this great weather when the summer comes :-)

ShySongbird said...

You could be right, it often happens like that :-( Mind you, the reservoirs here are unbelievably low! What we need is rain at night and sun in the day :-)

Marc Heath said...

Those Goldrests shots are top notch Warren.

Pete Woodruff said...

Pretty impressive Goldcrest images....all of 'em, not an easy bird to get this kind of quality, well done Warren.

kirstallcreatures said...

Love the Goldcrest pics

Greenie said...

Warren ,
Like the others , I think those Goldcrest shots are fantastic .
Do we put it down to hypnosis or Araldite ?
Whichever , well done .