Friday 20 November 2015

This morning was grey and overcast again, but there was little wind and it remained mild.

Things seemed to be on the turn on my patch today, with a real varied mix of species recorded. The continued presence of the mixed feeding flock of SISKIN, LESSER REDPOLL, GOLDFINCH, GREENFINCH, CHAFFINCH, LINNET and YELLOWHAMMERS at the Greenhouse Grounds are a real treat for me still, but today they were not only joined by a few LONG TAILED TITS, but also a REED BUNTING, a rare sight on my patch. The female KESTREL sat up in her nest box nearby.


I took these shot of her a few days back




 I had scan of the BLACK HEADED GULL flock on the sheep pasture at Migrant Alley, which contained around 75 birds, but nothing more exciting was with them, as I scanned through them, I saw a CORMORANT fly over, then a couple of GREAT BLACK BACKED GULLS (61) did likewise, this is another scarce species for my patch  :-)

Heading for the lakes, I saw a CHIFFCHAFF at the Ashes Lane Field, where just 2 MEADOW PIPITS were also seen, more exciting though were the pair of GOOSANDER (62) that flew low over, I watched them disappear into the distance, but I was hoping they would drop down onto the lakes, which when I arrived there, I found only the MALLARDS and MOORHEN as ever, but at least the GREY HERON and KINGFISHER were also present.

A look around the Scrubby Woods provided some nice views of a couple of male BULLFINCH, plus at least 6 GOLDCREST, a NUTHATCH and a TREECREEPER, the big female SPARROWHAWK made a low and menacing fly past, before heading off over the main lake.....look out Kingfisher!!

I made my way back home via the Small Holding area, where I recorded FIELDFARE, REDWING, MISTLETHRUSH, GREEN WOODPECKER, GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER and a couple of JAYS of note.

Later in the afternoon, the sun made an appearance, so I headed off over to the Greenhouse Grounds again, where I saw the GREY WAGTAIL and took a few more Redpoll photo's  :-)


Lesser Redpoll





5 comments:

Derek Faulkner said...

Nice Redpoll shots.
Clear skies here atm and an increasingly icy wind off the Thames Estuary a mile away.

Lancs and Lakes Outback Adventure Wildlife Safaris said...

Bit of a shake up coming Warren, light snow here this arvo... Brrrr
Cheers
DaveyMan

Marc Heath said...

Hopefully a few Woodcock will arrive in the next few days now this temperature has dropped off. Nice Goosander record.

Wilma said...

Sweet redpoll images.

Pete Woodruff said...

More excellent Redpoll images. We're set to become Iceland 2 tonight with below zero temp's....get you're skates on Warren!