Thursday 24 January 2013

A very grey and dismal afternoon brought very little this afternoon as I visited the Tree Nursery, Pub Field and Greenhouse Grounds. I scattered of a few kilos of sunflower hearts along the hedge bordering the Greenhouse Grounds and Migrant Alley, maybe I can attract down a few finch's, or Buntings, maybe even a Brambling  :-)

Whilst scattering the seed I heard the chatter of SISKIN in the Alder trees, I was trying to count them but got to around twenty when a SPARROWHAWK flew through, panicking the flock which flew out in a tight formation, I reckon 75-100 birds were there, although some were GOLDFINCH and no doubt had I finished being able to check them through, a couple of Redpoll would have been found with them too. The Greenhouse Grounds were again disturbed by continuing work to clear the old soil from the pots of raspberries, which are now piling up outside the Greenhouses, making good foraging habitat for the WRENS, DUNNOCKS, ROBINS, BLACKBIRDS and SONGTHRUSHES. Next year the old soil from the pots will be covered in nettles and wild plants, ready for the Butterflies and insects :-)

Looking out on the sheep pasture at Migrant Alley there were a couple of dozen FIELDFARE, around 200 STARLINGS, plus 7 REDWING, they have all returned to the fields now the snow has thawed, along with a flock of around 70 ROOKS. Nothing but a few BLACK HEADED GULLS were seen passing over against the leaden sky.

Over in the Tree Nursery things were quiet, of note there were 2 MEADOW PIPITS, 3 GREEN WOODPECKERS and a GOLDCREST, but not the hoped for Common Snipe for the year list, the KESTREL pair hunted busily, and a few more Fieldfare, Redwing and Songthrush dashed about amongst the shrubs.

The Pub Field for some reason still had a covering of snow on it, frustratingly, and as such not a thing was seen on it, all the other fields are virtually snow free now, strange!

Time was had for a look over my Garden Feeders, but here too it was very much a case of no change, although the MOORHEN was back again  :-)

My 'blog photo folder' is running dry now, so here's the last of the weekends images.
Starling
Robin
Robin

2 comments:

Rohrerbot said...

I recognized the first shot right away. Very familiar and common bird here....EVERYWHERE! It's amazing how they've spread out over the desert. Kinda beautiful those Starlings:)

ShySongbird said...

Hope your sunflower heart strategy works Warren :-) That's a gorgeous little Robin!

We have more heavy snow forecast for this evening but some sun tomorrow so hoping for some nice visitors for RSPB BGBW day. Had a male and female Blackcap yesterday, so difficult to get photos though as the garden is north facing.