Early this morning as I walked through the sheep pasture at Migrant Alley, I saw a flock of birds numbering 200 or so, this was made up of mostly FIELDFARE and STARLING, about 50/50 id say, but a few REDWING were also in with them. Shortly after, the feral BARNACLE GOOSE flew over, looking a bit lonely as it called repeatedly.
This afternoon I walked home and in the same field were around 200 Gulls, most of them were BLACK HEADED GULLS, but 5 of them were COMMON GULLS, 8 were HERRING GULLS, and best of all 2 of them were MEDITERRANEAN GULLS, the third record of this species this year, but just the second year in twelve that they have been recorded here :-)
After a bite to eat I set off out, I avoided the Lakes and Wet Woods this afternoon, as the sound of chainsaws were ringing out again, there wont be a lot of trees left in there at this rate! I headed off to the Tree Nursery, and gave it a good look through, BLACKBIRD, SONGTHRUSH, Redwing, GREEN WOODPECKER, DUNNOCK, GREAT TIT, WREN, and ROBIN were all seen, much as I expected, but a little less expected was a single MEADOW PIPIT. I gave the Pub field a good scan, hoping for a Lapwing for the months list, or you never know, a nice early Wheatear, but neither were found today, There is a big pile of cow manure that has been placed in the corner of the field ready to be spread on it, this might bring in a few birds :-).
The next hour was spent at my seat over at Migrant Alley, nice to be back sitting here, something i'll be doing a lot of this spring :-) I scanned the sheep pasture and refound all the Gulls seen earlier, plus a flock of mixed Corvids made up of ROOKS and JACKDAWS, about 100 birds in all. Two BUZZARDS drifted over, as did a male then a female SPARROWHAWK, one of the KESTREL pair flew in and hunted at the Greenhouse Grounds behind me. Other birds noted going over were PIED WAGTAIL, GOLDFINCH, SISKIN, and a few small flocks of Fieldfare, all quite wintry still, but no sign of any spring migrants though, this date last year my first spring Chiffchaff was heard to sing.
Once home I tried for some Garden bird photo's, but a hefty shower passed over, taking all the light away, however, as I waited for the shower to pass, the Green Woodpecker arrived, so I took some images of it, getting shots in all sorts of light as the sun slowly came out the other side of the shower.
Yea, I know, Not more Green Woody pics!!
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8 comments:
Hi Warren, It was unexpectedly sunny pretty well all day here, unfortunately I was unable to take advantage of it.
I for one don't mind how many Green Woody photos you post, I enjoy them all :-)
That's good then Songbird!
Hope you can get out with your camera soon !
The light is great on that Woody mate and great shot of the Kestrel yesterday too :-)
Cheers alan,
Good job ive got birds in the garden to photograph :-)
Think I'd die and go straight to heaven if a green woodpecker landed in our garden
Great pics
Cheers
DaveyMan
Hi Warren,
Weather was nice here too today, some nice sunny weather for a change :)
I'm sure it won't be long until the Chiffchaffs and other migrants start to return, always a sign that spring is here when you hear a Chiffchaff calling. Fantastic Green Woodpecker pictures again, you must have thousands on your computer now! Also really nice photos in your last post too, especially the Nuthatch :)
HI Warren,
Hope you are doing fine and as I come after a big absence, I loved seeing green pics again ;-) These woodpecker shots are fantastic... I see you do well in count too... I've only reach 46 species this year but with quite a good amount of new species for Iceland ;-) but my work has been taking over for the last 12 months and I hope I will be more regular at visiting your blog and getting out also...
cool woodpecker
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