Friday 4 December 2015

The first sunshine of the month was enjoyed this morning, which in light winds felt quite springlike.

Three hours were spent out on my patch, where I recorded much of what what seen yesterday, but one addition was made to the months list when I saw a GREY HERON (56) at the top of a tree by the lakes, I took a distant shot of it, just to remind myself how the camera worked!


The first Grey Heron of the month

Also at the lakes was the COOT, it fed on an apple which bobbed around making life difficult for it, but the Coot soon got into it, as I watched that, a KINGFISHER flew past giving it's high pitch call. MALLARDS and MOORHENS were the only other birds on the lake today.

In the partly lit, dappled light of the Wet Woods and Scrubby Woods I saw GOLDCRESTS, COAL TIT, LONG TAILED TITS, BULLFINCH, NUTHATCH, TREECREEPER, GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER, GREEN WOODPECKER and JAY, but finding a Stock Dove for the months list is proving difficult.

The MEADOW PIPITS were again at the Ashes Lane Field, and a couple more were in the sheep pasture at Migrant Alley, where there were around 100 BLACK HEADED GULLS, surely a Med Gull will join them before long!

The Greenhouse Grounds were the pick of the habitats today, mainly due to my supplementary feeding, which had attracted LESSER REDPOLL, GREENFINCH, CHAFFINCH, and GOLDFINCH by the score, as well as DUNNOCK, ROBIN, BLACKBIRD, BLUE TIT and GREAT TIT. The GREY WAGTAIL and the CHIFFCHAFF were seen again, but not the recently seen Brambling. Around 10 SISKIN were in the nearby Alders and the KESTREL looked on from the one of the Greenhouse rooves, before flying off to Ashes Lane to hunt along the roadside.


This SONGTHRUSH was also at the Greenhouse Grounds

The best of the flyovers noted today included FIELDFARE, SKYLARK, YELLOWHAMMER and HERRING GULL.


Back at home, I saw a Lesser Redpoll using my ''Bird bath / photographic prop'' too good an opportunity to waste, so I took a couple of shots, I also got a few images of the regular garden birds  for the ''Blog Folder'',  as this settled weather isn't set to last!


8 comments:

Derek Faulkner said...

Sad I know, but I thought of you as I drove along the Harty Road under blue skies and sunshine this morning but Springlike it certainly wasn't, as far as the temperature went, it was quite nippy in a moderate wind.
Love the Redpoll photos, I do like finches but see so few of them here.

Fleetwood Bird Observatory said...

Sunshine, what's that? Cracking pics as always Warren!

Cheers,

Seumus

Warren Baker said...

Derek,
Nice of you to keep me in mind :-) I'm glad you like the Redpolls........i've more images to come! LoL

Warren Baker said...

Seumus,
Dont get too envious of the sunshine here, it's not going to last. :-)

Mike H said...

Lesser redpolls at the garden pond from the hide very impressive. Only slightly envious Warren. lol

Wilma said...

Looks like a brand new world with all that sunshine. The redpoll shots are exceptional.

Warren Baker said...

Wilma,
It certainly makes all the difference!

Noushka said...

Hi Warren,
Great images of the Lesser redpoll.
This is a species I never get see here.
A bird bath is a must in winter, for the birds themselves but also for our photography opportunities :)
Sorry I haven't a regular on your blog lately but since my husband's passing, blogging is quite an effort...
But I must say it is always a pleasure to discover your lovely posts :)
Keep well and enjoy the new week