Monday 18 February 2013

A frosty, but sunny and bright walk into work this morning was made all the more enjoyable when I spied 3 WAXWINGS sitting high up in an oak tree in a garden adjacent to the sheep pasture at Migrant Alley, a walk to work doesn't get much better than that! Around 60 FIELDFARE were also seen, they were feeding in the sheep pasture.

This afternoon after work, I headed off over to the Lakes as usual, where I found them to be very busy, relative to normal that is! I found18 CANADA GEESE, 2 MALLARD, 6 MOORHEN a KINGFISHER, the COOT pair and a surprise gathering of 4 TEAL (63) an unusual sighting on the lakes, as are many duck species, but Teals, when they do show up, are normally to be found in the Wet Woods - still, a most welcome addition to the month  :-)
This is a view of the smallest of the 3 lakes, you can just make out one of the female Teal amongst the far branches, just about centre of the photo  :-)
The 18 Canada Geese were somewhat more obvious!
The adjacent Scrubby Woods was given a good look through, and I was pleased to see a WOODCOCK (64) fly up and drop back down further into the woods, another good species to add to the February list :-) Also of note in the scrubby Woods today were a pair of LONG TAILED TITS, a singing COAL TIT, a GOLDCREST and at least 4 BULLFINCH.
Goldcrest in the Scrubby woods
Goldcrest
I didn't have much time left for much more birding, but a quick look around the Tree Nursery was had, where a KESTREL was seen hunting, and a SPARROWHAWK flew over, 2 GREEN WOODPECKERS and 4 SONGTHRUSH were also seen, but it was only a quick look round.

For a short 90 minute visit it wasn't a bad result, the Teal and Woodcock take the February list to 64 now, that's the 4th best out of the 12 years of recording :-)



8 comments:

Marc Heath said...

Sounds like a good visit Warren. I met your shed guest today at Stodmarsh too.

ShySongbird said...

I like Teal, dainty little ducks I think. Well done on that and the Woodcock and also on those lovely photos of Grumpy Goldy looking like it is wearing a little jaunty schoolboy cap :-)

Lancashire and Lakeland Outback Adventure Wildlife Safaris said...

February's coming along nicely Warren, what are your odds on breaking your record in the next week?

Cheers

DaveyMan

Warren Baker said...

Marc,
Did he show you the photo's he got from said shed :-)

Warren Baker said...

Songbird,
Thats two good patch visits on consecutive days - it cant last - can it ?

Warren Baker said...

Davyman,
5 more species will be a February record tally :-)

Yellowhammer, Lapwing, Peregrine, are quite possible, while Brambling or maybe golden Plover might just flyover. Mandarin Duck is not out of the question, so there is all to play for :-)

Alan Pavey said...

A good couple of birds there Warren, some great pics as always.

Ken. said...

Warren.
Nice one, Waxwing. Teal and Woodcock, you must have enjoyed that outing on your patch today.