Monday 22 December 2014

This mornings 3 hour patch visit was as dull as the weather, another of those December days that barely gets light!

The moderate SW wind didn't make it easy to hear the calls of many of the woodland species, but I got lucky, as the LONG TAILED TIT flock, of some dozen birds, crossed my path whilst I was at the Scrubby Woods, with them were a couple of GOLDCRESTS. A pair of BULLFINCH were seen feeding on old Blackberry seeds, brightening up the scene somewhat.

There was nothing new to note on the lakes, so I made my way to the Greenhouse Grounds and Migrant Alley, stopping at the Ashes Lane Field on the way, where as yesterday, a COMMON BUZZARD flew up from the grassland, spooking the dozen MEADOW PIPITS that were sheltering there.

The Greenhouse Grounds were extremely quiet, just a few WRENS, DUNOCKS, ROBINS, PIED WAGTAILS, BLACKBIRDS and a pair of PHEASANTS were seen, not even the Kestrel pair were here today! The LITTLE OWL was seen from a distance sitting in its usual tree at the Greenhouse Copse, then scanning the sheep pasture and paddocks of Migrant Alley, I did at least see hundreds of birds, those being 100+ BLACK HEADED GULLS, 150 + STARLINGS plus a mix of ROOKS and JACKDAWS, of which there were at least a 150 of too  :-)

There's been nothing much at my garden feeders this afternoon either! As I write this the SPARROWHAWK is munching its way through a Blackbird that it has just caught, him and the mild weather doesn't make for a busy garden feeding station!

Looking through my 'blog photo' folder, I see its getting glow on images again, here's a few Coot pictures I took last week  :-)

Its always good to see a Coot on the Lakes!







4 comments:

Pete Woodruff said...

Coot images do the bird full justice Warren.

A least you got out today . Not looking good for me - with a mix of lousy weather and the Christmas break to blame - right up to next Monday at the earliest, and that's since last Friday....Humbug!!

Warren Baker said...

Pete,
Its a difficult time for us birders!! LoL

Gary Jones said...

Great images Warren, have a great Christmas

Warren Baker said...

Cheers Gary,
Enjoy your xmas too!