Wednesday 23 December 2015

After not 'blogging' yesterday due to the wet and windy weather preventing any sort of proper patch visit, the weather this morning couldn't have been more different, with blue skies and sunshine, lasting all day once the early cloud dispersed from the eastern horizon.


Dawn cloud dispersed by 08:30hrs, leaving the day warm and sunny, warmer even than some June days I've been out in! Even some of the blossoms on the Blackthorn trees are ready to burst fourth and a yellow poppy is almost in flower in my garden!

The weather may have been kinder today but the birding was a bit slow, a visit to the Lakes early on only provided a fishing CORMORANT of note. The Wet Woods and Scrubby Woods had plenty of GOLDCRESTS about, as well as two separate flocks of LONG TAILED TITS, a couple of NUTHATCHES a COAL TIT and a pair of BULLFINCHES. STOCK DOVE, MISTLETHRUSH, SONGTHRUSH, WREN, ROBIN and DUNNOCK were all in song and a GREAT TIT called it's ''Teacher'' ''Teacher'' spring time call  :-)

Crossing the Ashes Lane Fields, I counted 6 MEADOW PIPIT in the pasture, then a superb PEREGRINE FALCON zoomed overhead, I just got a snp shot of it as it passed  :-)


Peregrine in the blue sky, I dont know what's rarer!

Arriving at the Greenhouse Grounds I immediately heard a CHIFFCHAFF singing, then located two together. The female KESTREL sat up on one of the Greenhouses, but only 2 SISKIN, 2 LESSER REDPOLL and 4 GOLDFINCH fed in the Alder Trees, with the bramble understory containing a few BLACKBIRDS and SONGTHRUSH plus a GREENWOODPECKER came and went. 

YELLOWHAMMERS were again seen in the rough area between the Greenhouse Grounds and the Greenhouse Copse, hard top tell how many as they are so flighty, but no more than 6 i'd say.


One of the two Chiffchaffs seen today


I feel a bit robbed now i've heard them singing, it is always one of the pleasures of a March day to hear the first Chiffchaff sing since the Autumn before


I went a bit mad with the photo's!




6 comments:

Derek Faulkner said...

Yesterday was certainly a day to miss, I made the mistake of still going out in it.
Today however, was beautiful and a joy to be out in but certainly not as warm as you had it, chilly in fact.
And now, a huge full moon has just risen.

Marc Heath said...

Lovely Peregrine and Chiff shots. Looks like a Chiff is on the cards for 1st Jan. Is that normal for you?

Warren Baker said...

Derek,
Like you, I did attempt a walk, but it was hopeless in all that wind and rain.

Warren Baker said...

Marc,
Overwintering Chiffies are not that common here, never had on on my 1st of Jan list!

Lancashire and Lakeland Outback Adventure Wildlife Safaris said...

Singing Chiffchaff in late December - bonkers!
Been on a wild snow bunting chase here - alas no joy

All the best for the festive season

Cheers

DaveyMan

Warren Baker said...

Rather chase Snow Bunting than Chiffies Davyman!!