The only gold at the end of the rainbow were GOLDFINCHES at the Greenhouse Grounds
During my two hour walk today I visited the Greenhouse Grounds, Migrant Alley and the lakes, with short visits to the Wet Woods and Scrubby Woods. The Greenhouse Grounds had a flock of 15-20 LESSER REDPOLLS still knocking around the area, with them were a few CHAFFINCH and Goldfinch. There were 6 YELLOWHAMMERS present again in the rough grass area adjacent to the Greenhouse Grounds and the Greenhouse Copse.
Looking out over the sheep pasture and paddocks of Migrant Alley, it was once again a case of scanning through the 100+ BLACK HEADED GULLS, but just HERRING GULLS were found among them today. A flock of 50-70 STARLINGS was also on the pasture, along with a few ROOKS, JACKDAWS, CARRION CROWS and WOODPIGEONS, it was nice to see a couple of SKYLARKS about the place too.
Crossing the Ashes Lane Field, en route to the Lakes, at least 15 MEADOW PIPITS were seen, along with a SONGTHRUSH that song lustily from an Oak tree.
Songthrush. The contrast in the mornings weather can be seen clearly here, lovely blue sky!
Just a CORMORANT and a GREY HERON were of note on the lakes when I arrived, then a quick look through the Scrubby Woods and Wet Woods provided views of LONG TAILED TIT, COAL TIT, TREECREEPER, NUTHATCH, GOLDCRESTS, BULLFINCH, JAY, GREEN and GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER, plus song from MISTLETHRUSH and STOCK DOVE, this despite the work crew that were slashing, chainsawing and burning in a part of the Wet Woods - oops- I mean tidy up those nasty pieces of dead wood and decaying tree trunks :-)
6 comments:
Warren, what's your view on chestnut coppicing. That can involve an area of woodland looking quite bare for a year or two and yet does actually benefit some species as it re-grows and re-fills the area.
Sometimes some areas do have to be cleared (tidied up) on a regular 3-5 year cycle in order for them to better for wildlife in the long run. I'm not saying that the guys upsetting you today in the woods were doing something useful but sometimes "tidying up" is not always as bad as it seems in the short term. Hedge-laying can seem pretty devastating at first when a nice thick hedge that breed many birds, is slashed and thinned but look at the long term benefit.
Nice rainbow shots Warren. I must say we have had mostly sun here today and I am looking forward to a few more days like this. The weather for New Years Day looks good so far for an all dayer............ fingers crossed!
Derek,
I am all for coppicing, it has, as has been proved in the past, led to some ''proper'' wildlife habitat.
I know what woodland management is all about, and realize one size doesn't fit all when it comes to what kind of species is trying to be encouraged.
If I told you the woman who owns the part of the woods being 'tidied' said to me ''I wanted it cleared so no-one could jump out on me and me friends when we walk our dogs'', would that help you to understand what kind of ''management'' is going on!
Marc,
Lets hope the first new month of the year has more dry than wet in it!
Very fair comments Warren but as much as it irks us to see, what we consider to be perfect habitat for wildlife, treated in that way, I guess the owner does have the ultimate say in such matters. Not everybody sees countryside habitat in the same way as we would, that's why greenfield sites get built on. And just as you wouldn't accept someone saying your garden should be done a different way, that woman has done what she did to suit her and to possibly reduce a habitual fear.
Derek,
When she asks me ''where have all the songthrushes gone'' and such likes, as she is given to doing, she will get short thrift from me................again!
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