Pittswood Birds

walrusbaker@hotmail.com (Warren Baker) — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 14:37:00 +0000

I knew it was going to be a difficult full patch walk today, both in terms of physically walking through the deep snow, and trying to find any birds out there!

In the event I found a creditable 42 species, quite how I dont know, because there were long stretches of my walk where I saw and heard nothing at all. It was pleasing to see that the LINNETS had survived the frosty night, I watched at least 50 leave their roost in the tree nursery, quite how they keep warm in a bunch of Laurel bushes I find remarkable.

At Migrant Alley, REDWINGS were seen going over, several flocks of varying sizes from 3 to 28 went westwards, one flock had a few FIELDFARE with them. Also going over were a just a couple of SKYLARKS and 4 YELLOWHAMMER, it's notable that when watching birds going over, how white their underparts become as they reflect the snow, I had to double check some birds as for their ID. This particularly applied to the HERRING and BLACK HEADED GULLS as they flew low over.

The college gardens were given a thorough scanning, there are lots of berry laden shrubs here, so anything could be utilising this food source in the snowy conditions, but in the event the best of what was found were 3 BULLFINCH, the males looking very colourful against the snow.

As I passed the Greenhouse complex on the way back for my half time drink, I saw two PHEASANTS fly from the grounds, and the KESTREL was hunting what it could over the area. The SPARROWHAWK put in an appearance as I walked back up ashes lane, being mobbed by PIED WAGTAILS.

The second half of my walk was even quieter than the first, the Small Holding, wet woods and Lake area were still very snowy, and walking on the crispy snow was making so much noise I had no chance of sneaking up on anything, it was like walking over bubble wrap! The lake was frozen over and covered in snow, just two MALLARD were seen, but my heart missed a bit as I scanned the lake edge and found two female Pheasants, just for a milli second I thought they were Bitterns !

My fortunes changed a little as I walked back along the edge of the wet woods, here the sun was beating down, and it was sheltered from the breeze, the sun felt warm, I was quite surprised by its strength. The clever birds also found this place and I found a LONG TAILED TIT flock moving rapidly through, and with it were 2 TREECREEPERS, a COAL TIT, a GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER and the more common BLUE and GREAT TITS, as I watched them all I saw a lone LAPWING fly over the trees. A little further down the edge of the wood i checked the LITTLE OWL roost and found it home.

I spent some time garden watching this afternoon, and the feeders were very busy again. I was particularly pleased when a flock of 5 Fieldfare flew over, two of them doubled back and alighted in my elder tree, this is the first time I have recorded Fieldfare in my garden! It is the 53rd species to use my little piece of habitat in the 10 years I have lived here. A quick dash to the local shop for some apples was had, maybe I can entice them back!

Below is a photo of the scrubby area around the lake, no wonder nothing is in there!

Below is one of the two small lakes than are adjacent the main lake, all frozen up

Below: the only two Mallard left on the lake, to the wright is one of the Pheasants that had me going for a second!

Below are four Treecreeper pics. The last of which shows it digging away the snow from the tree trunk.

This last photo shows the little owl at roost - can you find it, you'll have to click on the pic and enlarge it I think, look near the centre of the photo

walrusbaker@hotmail.com (Warren Baker) — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 16:03:00 +0000

The forcast snow arrived overnight, depositing 4-5 Inches over my patch, it was still snowing hard when I left for work this morning, and walking the mile into work was quite hard work!

On the walk back from work LAPWINGS were very obvious as they moved around looking for a green space to alight, a flock of 13 were seen flying over Migrant Alley, as well as numerous single birds.

I arrived home to find the garden feeders were stacked with birds, the best being a single SISKIN, as well as the MOORHEN, which had been joined by another, an amazing record for my garden! A SONGTHRUSH that came in was the first since last spring.

There were so many Finch's, Tits, BLACKBIRDS, DUNNOCKS, ROBINS, HOUSE SPARROWS, COLLARED DOVES, and all the other common garden birds that it was hard to keep track! I did count a max of 23 CHAFFINCH though, I reckon there were over 100 birds in the garden at any one time this afternoon.

I did go out on my patch for 90 mins, I checked the lake, which was frozen solid, and devoid of anything, the wet woods and small holding were also empty, the deep snow made it difficult to see anything anyway. It wasn't until I paid a visit to a snowy Migrant Alley that anything interesting was noted, a flock of 45 Lapwing went over, and again there were many single birds. A YELLOWHAMMER and 2 MEADOW PIPITS flew north, a LESSER BLACK BACKED GULL flew in the same direction, but the most interesting bird for me was the GREY WAGTAIL that was around the Greenhouse complex, as it was the first this month, species number 61 for December. Far to the north of my patch 3 large flocks of Geese went westwards, a bit frustrating, as I have not recorded any geese on my patch this month!

I took hundreds of pics today, i'll put a few more on over the wekend, but here's a few to be going on with.

Above: One of the two Moorhens that visited the feeders, strange to see them feeding with the Chaffinch's!

Below: The Siskin that came in for a short while

Below: A classic ''Robin in the snow'' pic.

Below is a mixture a GREEN and GOLDFINCH on the sunflower hearts, with a couple of GREAT TITS

The rest of the photo's are snowy scenes from around my patch, below is a photo of the trees in my garden

Below snowy crab apples at the scrubby area by the lake

Below is the wet woods

Below is the footpath from the wet woods to the lake

Below is the drive of a house by the lake

Lastly, this is the footpath from the small holding to the wet woods

walrusbaker@hotmail.com (Warren Baker) — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 17:14:00 +0000

Not much to report at all today, five LAPWING were seen on the sheep pasture at Migrant Alley, always a sign that cold weather is north of our area.

As I was putting on my boots to go out this afternoon, the sky went dark, and a heavy sleety rain shower set in, I waited for it to pass, and it did some 40 mins later but by then dusk was setting in, and I decided not to go out, the lake would still be frozen over anyway.

I did watch the garden feeders for a while, which were very busy, up to 50 birds at a time were feeding, but is was not as busy as yesterday, the weather wasn't quite so cold today.

I was hoping for a Brambling or maybe an overwintering Blackcap to venture into the garden, either would be good for the December list, which is stalling now on 60 species, still a mile off of last Decembers 73 species, which looks a safe tally at the moment. However this december has seen two species I didn't get last December, a Mute Swan and a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, so I won't be giving up the chase just yet.

I hope to get out tomorrow, but heavy snow is forecast overnight and into the morning - i'll take that with a pinch of salt though, after this afternoons so called snow was just sleet and rain!

walrusbaker@hotmail.com (Warren Baker) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 16:59:00 +0000

There was an even harder frost this morning, and the day dawned crisp, cold, and bright. However by the time I got home from work for my afternoon patch walk, cloud had drifted over and light sleet was falling. The dull damp conditions made it feel colder, even though it had warmed up a bit from this morning.

I only spent an hour out, my usual walk over to the lake, but the lake was frozen from bank to bank. 16 MALLARD huddled together on the ice, and not one Moorhen was seen, in fact during the whole of my hour out the only birds I came across were a feeding flock of LONG TAILED TITS these had the usual followers, GREAT, COAL and BLUE TIT, a TREECREEPER and a GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER, whilst scanning the flock for something interesting, 3 SISKIN dropped in, right on the top most branches of a nearby Ash tree.

JAY, MAGPIE and WOODPIGEON were seen, but it would be a strange day indeed if they weren't! Not much else to report i'm afraid, apart from the garden feeders, which are being emptied at an alarming rate, a snapshot of the feeding station at any one time would show, 11 CHAFFINCH, 11 GREENFINCH, 13 GOLDFINCH, 15 BLUE TIT, 6 GREAT TIT, 2 COAL TIT, 8 HOUSE SPARROW, 2 DUNNOCK, 2 ROBIN, 1 WREN, 12 STARLING, 5 COLLARD DOVE, 5 BLACKBIRD, 2 GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER, 2 WOODPIGEONS, 2 NUTHATCH and a MAGPIE.............its costing me a fortune!!

walrusbaker@hotmail.com (Warren Baker) — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 16:20:00 +0000

I had to stay late at work today for the christmas school dinner, so my walk this afternoon was cut to just over an hour.

By the time I got out the bird life was already getting into roosting mode, and I don't blame them, it was very cold out there today. Patches of frost were still lying wherever the suns rays couldn't reach. It wasn't until I reached the large gardens that straddle the footpath that leads to the lake, that I finally saw some activity, SISKINS fed in some Alders, with a COAL TIT, a pair of NUTHATCH'S were busily chipping away at an old Oak branch, giving me some great views, but it was just too dark in the shadows for any photographs, more surprisingly I heard the lovely delicate sound of a TREECREEPER in full song.

Despite much searching of the treetops for the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, it was not re-found, however GREEN and GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKERS were very much in evidence.

At the lake I was miffed to find it three quarters frozen over! A dozen MALLARDS crammed into the remaining open water, and two MOORHEN were under the overhanging branches, which kept the edge of the water ice free. Whilst I was there a GREY HERON drifted in and alighted on the ''Cormorants'' perch.

The sun very rapidly dipped below the horizon, and the temperature dropped equally as fast, time to go home for a hot cuppa, as I left I came across a small party of LONG TAILED TITS, I hope they find somewhere warm tonight, it's going to be a cold one.

Above: Iced Lake and the setting sun. Below: Frost at the small holding

walrusbaker@hotmail.com (Warren Baker) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 16:23:00 +0000

This afternoon I thought i'd go over into the wet woods to try and relocate yesterdays Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, and maybe even photograph it. I think I was a little optimistic, on both counts!

It was very quiet as I walked through the Small Holding on my way to the woods, only the most common of birds were seen, BLACKBIRDS, BLUE and GREAT TITS, WRENS, DUNNOCKS and ROBINS, all in small numbers. Once in the woods it was still and silent, just right for peering through the static branches, anything moving about would catch my eye easily, trouble is not a lot moved, a few SISKIN, more Blue and Great Tits and the odd CHAFFINCH, that was about it, despite half an hour of looking.

I decided I would take a look at the lake area, I didn't fare much better here, the water had just 5 MALLARD and 3 MOORHEN, with a CORMORANT sitting up on its favoured tree, but as I walked the bank I heard the hooting of a TAWNY OWL coming from the scrubby area, then once again it hooted, a very nice find for December, and a bit lucky I'd say! A few moments later a JAY had obviously located the Owl, and was screeching alarm calls at it, another jay joined in, and I then started to home in on the racket, I was close to the jays, so the owl was near, but I couldn't see it, two MISTLE THRUSHES came in from somewhere and joined the mobbing party, which by now had Chaffinch's, Blackbirds, SONGTHRUSH, and more amusingly two GOLDCREST and a COAL TIT all adding their scolding calls. However, I just couldn't find the Owl, I suspect it flew off low and into denser cover without me seeing, and all the fuss died down. This is only the fourth month of the year I have recorded Tawny Owl.

After all that excitement I decided I would go back and walk the edge of the wet woods, along marchants field, I found what I was looking for, in just the place I saw it last month, a LITTLE OWL, not often I get two owl species on the same day, especially in the afternoon! I also found a LONG TAILED TIT flock with a couple of TREECREEPERS.

As the sun started to go down I went over to the tree nursery to wait for the LINNETS to come into roost, this they did at 15:40, and I counted over 60 of them.

The December list now moves on to 60 species, which is the average total for the month.

Above: The Cormorant on his perch.

Above and below a Treecreeper, not very good photo's but the light in the woods was terrible!

Below: Linnets coming in to roost

Lastly, sunset over the wet woods, with the tree nursery in the foreground

walrusbaker@hotmail.com (Warren Baker) — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 14:54:00 +0000

This morning I was joined by two visitors for my patch walk, readers of this blog who wished to see my patch. We left at around 07:30, and quickly heard, or had glimpses of ROBIN, CARRION CROW, BLACKBIRD, WOODPIGEON and WREN as we walked down Ashes Lane. Walking through the tree nursery a SONG THRUSH was singing, and in the distance we could see the KESTREL hunting over the Greenhouses, one of many sightings of it! Also whilst there 4 CORMORANTS flew low over.

On leaving the tree nursery, and walking the hedgerow to Migrant Alley, we saw an Immature MUTE SWAN fly over, particularly pleasing as it was a new species for this month, a scarce bird on my patch.

Migrant Alley was quiet, but we did see a MEADOW PIPIT fly up, I heard a SKYLARK go over and a small flock of REDWINGS did the same. BLACK HEADED and HERRING GULLS were on the sheep pasture and college sports pitch, and passing through was another new species for the month a LESSER BLACK BACKED GULL.

The college grounds and gardens gave us MOORHEN, MALLARD, JAY, COLLARD DOVE and BULLFINCH for the day list, and our second visit to Migrant Alley, on the way back gave us a PHEASANT, GOLDFINCH and GREENFINCH.

The second part of the walk through the Small Holding and Wet Woods was relatively quiet, but PIED WAGTAIL, SISKIN, GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER, and a MISTLE THRUSH kept the daylist ticking over. As we were about to leave the Wet Woods, we found a feeding flock of mainly Tits, with a few siskin, but I then noticed a small bird scurrying up a tree trunk, I announced to my visitors that there was a Treecreeper ahead, but as I got my bins on it, I could see it was no Treecreeper, it was a female LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER ! fantastic sighting! Both my visitors got some fleeting sightings of it - a new bird for them, before it flew deeper into the woods.

The Lesser Spotted Woodpecker is a real scarce bird on my patch, it has been seen in six out of the 8 years of recording, involving less than a dozen sightings.

We carried on our walk over to the lake and scrubby area, but there wasn't anything new on the water, on the way back out of the scrub we did find a flock of LONG TAILED TITS, with COAL TIT, TREECREEPER, and a handsome male Bullfinch. We decided to go back into the wet woods to maybe get better views of the L.S. Woodpecker, but by now 3 unruly dogs were bounding about and yakking loudly, so we called it a day and made our way home.

45 species for the day, with 3 more additions to the December total was more than a good days work. I hope you enjoyed your walk of my patch Mr and Mrs P.!!

It was too gloomy for any pics this morning, so I got some more garden pics this afternoon.

Above: Great Spotted Woodpecker

Above: CHAFFINCH (Male) and below, a busy little BLUE TIT with a sunflower heart.

Lastly another mixture on the feeder, GREAT TIT, GOLDFINCH, GREENFINCH and HOUSE SPARROW.

walrusbaker@hotmail.com (Warren Baker) — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 16:01:00 +0000

My first full patch walk of December was an enjoyable one, despite the showers which passed through. 45 species were recorded, the very first being GOLDCREST, two of which were in the hedgerow opposite my house, not often they grace the top of the list!

I watched the LINNETS leaving their roost at the tree nursery, and counted 48, but I missed a few! The next species on the list was a bit of a surprise, as I left the tree nursery, both PEREGRINES flew over, brilliant! I thought they may have left the area as I havn't seen them since October.

Crossing Migrant Alley, all was very quiet, and it felt cool in the NE wind, I heard the call of SKYLARKS above me and saw 3 go over, but more interesting was the 2 LAPWING that were just above them, another species not seen since October.

I added more common species to the day list as I walked through the college grounds, but I was surprised by the lack of FIELDFARE around, just 2 were seen, REDWING, however were more numerous with several small groups seen. Another new species for the month was seen on one of the small ponds in the college gardens - a KINGFISHER, too quick for my camera though.

The second part of my walk, through the small holding, wet woods, and lake area yielded PHEASANT, BULLFINCH, COAL TIT, MARSH TIT and 3 TREECREEPERS for the daylist, as well as MALLARD and MOORHEN which were on the lake, however, there weren't any nice surprises swimming with them!

I managed a few garden photo's today, below is a feeder full of finch's, with a GREAT TIT and a HOUSE SPARROW

Above is a WOODPIGEON, and below one of the many BLUE TITS that were around

Below is a GREENFINCH

A STARLING is next..........

and lastly, a nice surprise was the return of the Moorhen

walrusbaker@hotmail.com (Warren Baker) — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 16:09:00 +0000

The weather stayed dry and almost windless today, with some sunny spells, making for a pleasant walk out this afternoon. I saw most of what I expected as I walked through the Small Holding, a mixture of GREAt TITS, BLUE TITS, CHAFFINCH and GOLDFINCH, with GREEN WOODPECKER feeding beneath the pear trees, and WRENS, DUNNOCKS and ROBINS all calling in their own particulr way.

Nothing really stirred in the Wet Woods, just a pair of MALLARD, and a GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER, although a few single SISKIN were heard going over the tree tops.

Over on the lake I was at first disappointed at the lack of bird life, but then I noticed a CORMORANT sat up on its favoured perch, then 5 Mallard swam out of the overhanging branches, and 2 MOORHEN crossed from one side of the lake to the other, but as I moved along the bank 2 TEAL flew out, and splashed back down over amongst the overhanging tree's on the opposite bank, nice! I was expecting a Teal on the December list, as I record them in most Decembers, but they invariably turn up in the wet woods, not the lake, it's quite a rarity to find them on the lake! Around the bankside vegetation and scrubby area, more of the usual birds were seen, BULLFINCH, COAL TIT a small gang of Siskin, and 3 TREECREEPERS.

Happy with that little find, I went over to Migrant Alley, and today was rewarded with one of the species I had expected to find there before now. In the tall hedge were 3 male YELLOWHAMMERS, this species just about finishes of the easier finds for December, bringing the tally to 52, still a big 21 behind last dec. but i'll be happy to reach the average number of species seen for this month, which is 60.

Tomorrow I'll be out early for my first full walk round of the month......Hurrah!

Above and below are some of the 75 LINNETS I counted as I walked back from Migrant Alley along Ashes lane, they were all sitting up preening and chatting in an ash tree, prior to dropping down into the Tree Nursery roost.

walrusbaker@hotmail.com (Warren Baker) — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 16:14:00 +0000

At last some fine and settled weather for my afternoon stroll over to the lake area. The upturn in the weather hasn't meant an upturn in the birds though, it's still pretty quiet really. A flock of around 20 GOLDFINCH and CHAFFINCH were the biggest concentration of passerines, they were feeding on the almost disintegrated remains of some fallen crab apples at the small holding. Again GREEN and GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER were seen between the wet woods and the lake, as was a small party of GREAT TITS with a NUTHATCH tagging along with them.

Just 8 MALLARDS and 5 MOORHENS were found on the lake, but much scanning for something different only produced the first GREY HERON of the month, its head was just showing above a small patch of bullrush. A pair of GOLDCREST fed in a pine tree nearby, a COAL TIT and 3 BULLFINCH were in the scrubby area also a group of 10ish SISKIN were feeding in an Alder tree.

I used the last light of the day to walk the tall hedge at migrant alley, It only held BLACKBIRDS and DUNNOCKS, not the Yellowhammer or Reed Bunting that I was hoping for, 10 SKYLARKS were seen as they dropped down onto the new seeded sheep pasture, the KESTREL once again hunted over the Greenhouses, and 3 BLACK HEADED GULLS fed out on the paddocks. I watched at least 18 PIED WAGTAILS fly to roost at the Greenhouses, but that was it, I ran out of light!
Oh ! I nearly forgot, just to give Dean ( of Mostly Macro) a mention, he is starting a new blog at www.deansdailydiary.blogspot.com give it a try !

Above: Siskin. Below Nuthatch

walrusbaker@hotmail.com (Warren Baker) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 16:09:00 +0000

Barely 90 mins was had this afternoon before dusk descended, mind you it wasn't really light when I went out at 14:00, we are really entering the shortest daylight hours of the year now!

Very few passerines were seen at all as I walked through the wet woods, the small holding I passed through a bit earlier was also very quiet. Just a handfull of species could be recounted, a BULLFINCH calling, a GREEN WOODPECKER feeding on a large garden lawn, MALLARD and MOORHEN on the pools in the wet woods and a GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER calling from one of the well wooded gardens by the lake. The lake itself was not giving me any nice surprises today, no Goosander, just back to the Mallard and Moorhen, not even a Grey Heron that I still need for the months list.

A quick visit to Migrant Alley had me finding a few more species, 10 SKYLARK were out on the new seeded pasture, a LESSER REDPOLL was in the line of Alder trees down from the Tall hedge, where a single FIELDFARE was sitting. A MEADOW PIPIT that flew over calling was the first seen this month and 14 LINNETS flew over towards their roost site at the tree nursery.

I waited around, and did some skywatching, but all I saw was a single of CORMORANT, and HERRING GULL. As sky watched, I noticed the KESTREL hunting around the Greenhouses, as it does most days, and a little later few PIED WAGTAILS started to come in to roost there, but as dusk came I decided to call it a day, happy with my one addition for the months list.

The weather looks more promising tomorrow and onwards into the weekend, after more than 50 days of weather systems blowing through, I'm ready for a change!

walrusbaker@hotmail.com (Warren Baker) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 17:17:00 +0000

Todays mid-morning sunshine tempted me out for half an hour or so, just to go over to the lake. I wasn't feeling to bad today, but i'm not quite fit for a longer trip.

Before leaving home I was staring out of the back bedroom window, and noticed a large bird flying across from left to right, over the wet woods, I got my bins on it and found it to be a GREAT BLACK BACK GULL, a real nice species to get flying over my patch - one more for the December tally!

My walk over to the lake area was very pleasant in the sunny conditions and it was nice to get some fresh air after days stuck indoors. I recorded the expected species along the way. LONG TAILED TITS fed in the wet woods, with other tit species, two TREECREEPERS and a NUTHATCH. Both GREEN and GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKERS were located, and the MARSH TIT has so far avoided the talons of the Sparrowhawk!

As I approached the lake, all was quiet, and the first scan of the far bank revealed just one MOORHEN and only three MALLARD, but then saw a group of 'low slung' ducks swim out from my side of the lake, I got my bins onto them, and at last, something different to see, not one, not two, not even three, but Four GOOSANDERS! Two males and two females, the males looked absolutely stunning in the sunlight, I treid for a photo, but couldn't get one through the tree branches, I moved round the lake for a clearer shot, but I wasn't stealthy enough, and they spotted me, they then flew off, - blast!!

Goosanders are a real treat to find on my patch, they do arrive in most winters on the lake, but are not frequent visitors, the last ones seen were at the back end of last winter on 17th of March, when a pair were present.

The two new species for the month takes the tally to 48..............only 25 behind last december! Where will I find another 25 species!!!!

The sun remained out for another hour or so after I got in, and I managed some garden bird photo's

Above: BLUE TIT. Below: JACKDAW

Below: The old favourite, a ROBIN

walrusbaker@hotmail.com (Warren Baker) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 17:29:00 +0000

Ive just emerged from my duvet after 2 days ! looks like that flu I had a few weeks ago came back for a second bite of me!

I'm just posting today to thank all the fellow bloggers out there who sent me get well messages,...........thanks, it really cheered me reading through them!

Hopefully by Wednesday I will be fit enough to resume my daily tales of the Pittswood Birdlife :-), maybe i'll even get out tomorrow for a short walk, if the weather cheers up.

Thanks again for the cheery comments!

walrusbaker@hotmail.com (Warren Baker) — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 15:24:00 +0000

I had every intention of getting up and going out onto my patch this morning, but after spending much of the night coughing, and sneezing, I woke up feeling a bit rough still, perhaps I'll get out for my first full patch walk of December tomorrow!

After some early showers in the morning, the sun came out for a couple of hours, and I couldn't resist the temptation to go over to the lake. I wrapped up warm, dosed myself up with paracetamol and spent 40 mins or so out in the fresh air.

As it was mid-morning I didn't expect to see much, but I just wanted to try and clear my head and chest with some cool air - it did seem to help for a while! On my walk I did manage to see 4 new species for the month. Firstly a MARSH TIT that was seen along the footpath between the wet woods and lake area, as I watched it a SPARROWHAWK whipped past just feet over the yew bush it was calling from, a lucky break for the tit, and for me, I would hate to lose the only Marsh Tit on my patch to a Sprawk!

I got to the lake and predictably only found MALLARD and MOORHEN there, but I also got good views of a NUTHATCH, as it sat atop an evergreen tree, and also heard a few BULLFINCH calling from the surrounding scrub areas.

The third new species for the month was a couple of flyover LESSER REDPOLL, seen as I walked back home along the edge of the wet woods, and Marchants field, where also the last of the new months species was seen - a PHEASANT, that just about wrapped up my short foray into the world of the living, and I got home to a telling off from the wife for going out in the first place. :-)

Decembers list now stands at a poor 46, but there are still some reatively easy species to be found, like Greylag and Canada Geese, Yellowhammer, Meadow Pipit and Grey Heron, but after them it will get difficult!

I took a few garden pics during the last hour of the sunshine, this male CHAFFINCH came out quite well.
The COAL TIT below is difficult to photograph, it just doesn't stop moving.

Above and below, my large 12 port sunflower heart feeder was full of GREENFINCH

The Nuthatch below was taken whilst out on my walk

As was this Robin

walrusbaker@hotmail.com (Warren Baker) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 16:29:00 +0000

I didn't get out again today - still not feeling great, which was infuriating, as the weather was fine and sunny, I wonder what I missed out on my patch :-(

I made the most of the sunshine in the garden though, and took these pics.
Also had two STOCK DOVES flyover the house, one more species for the december list.

Above and below a male HOUSE SPARROW, with its coloured rings on, it was rung as part of a scheme to track House Sparrow suvival rates. This one was rung on the 26 Aug this year, and is the first sighting since then.

Above and below: A BLUE TIT preening

Above: A GREAT TIT, that had just been bathing in my pond, and below: A ROBIN

Above: STARLING feeding on fat, and Below: A male CHAFFINCH

Above: a male GREENFINCH, below: GOLDFINCH, Greenfinch, and Starling on the feeders

walrusbaker@hotmail.com (Warren Baker) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 17:05:00 +0000

Having been struck down with another virus, I didn't get out at all today. All I managed was a few hours watchng the garden feeders, which at times were very busy. A flock of 30-40 mixed finch's came and went, mostly GOLDFINCH, a max. of 18 were on the sunflower hearts, and there was a peak of 9 CHAFFINCH and 11 GREENFINCH.

Many Tits were using the feeders, and although the most I counted at one time was 13 BLUE TITS, 7 GREAT TITS and 2 COAL TITS, I know that many more actually visited during the day. Only a peak of 4 HOUSE SPARROWS was recorded, the same as DUNNOCK, it seems the House Sparrow is still unwilling to use the feeders, presumably still warey of the Sparrowhawk, which was nowhere to be seen, and hasn't been for the past week.

3 STARLNGS fed on the recently purchased fat blocks, and 6 BLACKBIRDS fed on fallen scraps from the feeders, as did a peak of 5 COLLARED DOVES, while 2 ROBINS chased each other around the shrubs.

Other less common visitors, were two NUTHATCH, 2 GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKERS, 3 WOODPIGEON, 2 MAGPIES, 3 JACKDAWS, and a WREN.

I kept my eye on the sky, and out over the wet woods and greenhouse complex from my upstairs windows, and added 2 new species for the Dec. list, nothing exciting just HERRING GULL and REDWING, bringing the months list to just 42, still 31 behind the huge december total of last year. Other species seen were FIELDFARE, CARRION CROW, ROOK, MALLARD and GREENWOODPECKER.

Not a very satisfactory day for me ! I just hope this virus Ive contracted doesn't hang around too long, but the way i'm coughing, and with the fuzzy headaches i'm getting, it doesn't look to good for the weekend. :-(

walrusbaker@hotmail.com (Warren Baker) — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 16:26:00 +0000

The weather closed in this afternoon, heavy rain showers and gloomy, dark conditions prevented me going out for a patch visit, how long can this regime of dire, almost uninterrupted run of South Westerly depressions last ?

The only bit of of patch birding done was on the walk home from work, 25 mins of semi lightness enabled me to add KESTREL, which was hunting over the Greenhouses area, and GOLDCREST, one was optimistically singing in the College grounds, to the monthly list.

A 90 minute garden birdwatch, was some consolation for not getting out, 17 species came into the garden in that time, and COAL TIT was the only species seen that has not yet been recorded for December. An increase in BLACKBIRD numbers was very evident, there were 7 in the garden, foraging around the leaf litter and shrubs, there has been just one for the past 6 weeks. Other notable garden species, were a couple of female GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKERS, a NUTHATCH and a WREN. GOLDFINCH numbers continue to increase, with a maximum of 13 at the sunflower hearts.

The weather looks just as unsettled for the rest of the week, but i'll have to just wait and see if I can get out. Only 19 days more and the days start to lengthen again, i'll leave you with that optimistic outlook!!

walrusbaker@hotmail.com (Warren Baker) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:21:00 +0000

Today we had a 24 hour respite from the wind and rain, and for once it was sunny and calm............well it was sunny until I left work, when high cloud came over, but it did stay brighter than of late.

I did my usual winter walk this afternoon, and tried to get as many species on the December list as I could, I wanted to get off to a good start! I had already seen a few species on the walk home from work, BLACK HEADED GULL, PIED WAGTAIL, FIELDFARE, MISTLE THRUSH, ROOK, and JACKDAW all at Migrant Alley, as well as GOLDFINCH, SONGHRUSH, BLACKBIRD, COLLARED DOVE, WOODPIGEON, WREN, DUNNOCK, ROBIN, and MAGPIE all picked up at the college grounds, BULLFINCH was added as I walked along ashes lane, two were feeding in the adjacent Greenhouse grounds.

During the afternoon, BLUE TIT, GREAT TIT, CHAFFINCH, GREENFINCH and GREEN WOODPECKER were added to the list from the Small Holding, and the wet woods gave me a GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER, plus TREECREEPER, and MOORHEN, but still no Teal for this winter on the now full pools.

A party of LONG TAILED TITS flitted from tree to tree as I walked the footpath from the wet woods to the lake area, but I couldn't find any Goldcrest among them, there are not very many about on my patch this year. Arriving at the lake, I was wanting something exciting - Goosander would have been nice, but as usual I only got MALLARD for the list. Around the scrubby area I added JAY to the list, and saw more Bullfinch's, lots of them around this year, good to see. At the nearby garden feeders lots of common birds were seen, but the only ones I hadn't seen already were NUTHATCH, and HOUSE SPARROW. A flock of SISKIN that fed in an Alder tree with some Goldfinch's was good for the Dec. list.

I made my way over to Migrant Alley for the final 45 mins of the daylight, crossing the tree nursery on the way, there was a work party busy here, so not much was added to the list, apart from a CARRION CROW and, at last a STARLING! Where have they all gone ?

Once at Migrant Alley, I didn't have the time to walk the fields, but I saw a flock of 16 SKYLARK settle onto the sheep pasture as I took my seat, and a little later a STOCK DOVE flew over, as did a pair of LINNETS, but that was it for the daylist. I left at it was just getting dark, but as I cut through the Greenhouse grounds a LITTLE EGRET flew over, superb bird for the December list! Thats two in a week now, after not seeing one since July.

As I walked up ashes Lane for home, I saw the Linnet flock coming in to roost, at least 60 birds were swirling around, I watched them drop down, a few at a time each time they passed over a patch of bramble at the Greenhouse grounds, it was great to watch, but the traffic was a bit of a pain as it sped by unconcerned of such a spectacle. The last bird on the list for the day was a CORMORANT, a fortunate sighting, as one flew over as I watched the Linnets!

So thats 37 species to kick of Decembers list, a good effort in 2 hours!

Above is a Fox that I came across while watching the garden feeders at the house by the Lake.

Above is the Little Egret that flew over the greenhouses, a good sighting for any month on my patch.

Above: Sunsetting behind the Greenhouse Complex, with the tall hedge at Migrant Alley in the foreground

walrusbaker@hotmail.com (Warren Baker) — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 16:42:00 +0000

There was just enough time to visit the small holding, wet woods, and lake area, before dusk set in, mind you it never really got light all day here.

I thought I might just sqeeze out one more new species for the last patch visit of the month, but it wasn't to be, everything is very static at the moment, mostly due to the unchanging, warm and wet weather that has been with us throughout November.

I did manage to find five tit species, GREAT, BLUE, COAL, LONG TAILED and MARSH, which is always nice, four Finch species CHAFFINCH, BULLFINCH, GREENFINCH, and GOLDFINCH as well as the two WOODPECKERS GREEN and GREAT SPOTTED. There were very few 'winter' birds about, four overflying FIELDFARE and a flock of 15-20 SISKIN were in an Alder tree by the lake. On the lake itself I was surprised to see three CORMORANT fishing, but not much else, 5 MALLARD and 6 MOORHEN, fewer numbers than of late.

I got good views of a TREECREEPER in the small holding, but the poor light prevented any photo's being taken.

Looking at the November stats, the month ended on a total of 63 species, the second best November in the 8 years of recording, the combined November total is now 78, the second lowest total, but it is shared with Jan. and Feb.

November, despite its poor weather and my illness, did throw in some treats, my first November Ring Necked Parakeet was recorded, and two other species never recorded in November - Little Grebe and Coot were a nice addition, especially the former, as it was a year first.

Looking at the average number of species recorded for all Novembers - which is 57, this Novembers 63 compares well. However, 68 is the average number of species I have seen per month this year. What will December bring ? One thing for sure, the record December species total of 73 is extremely unlikely to be broken, as it's the second best monthly tally of any month in any year, but there's no harm in having a go !!

walrusbaker@hotmail.com (Warren Baker) — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 14:05:00 +0000

The last full walk round my patch for November was a very frustrating one! As I left at 07:20 I was caught in a hefty shower, but it passed and it began to brighten up a bit. I made my way over to the lake area, via the small holding and wet woods, recording a good number of the more common species, including two that weren't seen yesterday, REDWING and GREY HERON, both at the small holding.

I made my way through the wet woods, and heard both FIELDFARE and LESSER REDPOLL fly overhead, the latter species wasn't seen yesterday either, and I thought to myself a daylist of 50 species could be on. At the lake area, it seemed everthing had deserted the place, their were just 3 MALLARD and 5 MOORHEN, with a single CORMORANT, which caught a small fish.
Around the scrubby areas and the nearby garden feeders, BULLFINCH, GREENFINCH, SISKIN, COAL TIT and LONG TAILED TIT brought the list to 37 for the day.

Walking back through the wet woods, I heard a loud clap of thunder, but it wasn't until I left my house after a quick drink break, that I saw what was heading my way. A huge black thunderstorm loomed menacingly to the west, I though it looked like the storm might skirt round my patch, so i carried on, however just 5 mins later it was apparent that I was wrong, the first large drops of rain fell as I crossed the tree nursery and I looked for some shelter. Despite the oncoming rain, the last of the sun was shining low from the east, creating one of the most spectacular rainbows I have ever seen - quite remarkable.

A few minutes later, the rain came on real heavy, and large hailstones fell, I was caught out in the middle of it all and got thouroughly soaked! In all the rain I did add YELLOWHAMMER and MEADOW PIPIT to the daylist, but I didn't finish the walk, as it just kept raining, and I got fed up!!!!

With just one more afternoon walk left for November, it looks like last years record November total of 66 will remain in tact, but the total of 63 achieved this November was the second best ever. This despite all the rubbish weather and the 'flu', so I cant be too disappointed.

Below are a few photo's of the spectacular rainbow, this in itself was worth getting wet for I thought!

Below, in the opposite direction, a female CHAFFINCH sat in a tree in the sunshine

A GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER was on the peanuts in my garden as I left just before the storm

Also this Nuthatch came to visit as I was photographing the Woodpecker

walrusbaker@hotmail.com (Warren Baker) — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 16:09:00 +0000

After some heavy overnight rain, the sky cleared towards dawn, and my 4 hour full patch walk was carried out under a blue sky.

I walked the farmland part of my walk first, which was a bit disapointing, as it was infested with dog walkers today for some reason. One woman let her dog jump up me, putting mud all up my trousers, I felt like wiping my boots up her skirt, to see how she would enjoy it, but managed to hold my annoyance in.

Anyway back to the birds, a good selection of species was seen, but actual numbers of birds were low, not much winter flocking going on. The only winter visitors seen were flyovers of two FIELDFARE and two SISKIN, over the tree nursery, where I watched the remaining 10 or so LINNETS come out of their roost. Migrant Alley had a flock of BLACK HEADED GULLS on the sheep pasture, numbering 43, with two HERRING GULLS amongst them, as I approached, 3 LESSER BLACK BACKED GULLS flew over, the first ive seen since early this month. Out on the new grass field, there were 2 SKYLARKS, two YELLOWHAMMER, and the usual gathering of ROOKS and JACKDAWS. Over head, a skein of 22 CANADA GEESE, with a single GREYLAG GOOSE went SE, I also notice two CORMORANT headed towards the lake area.

I couldn't walk down the stream adjacent to the college grounds, as it had turned into a river with all the rain we've had, making it impossible to cross, so I missed out on finding a possible Kingfisher to add to the months list. In the college grounds, plenty of common birds were around, MISTLE THRUSH, SONGTHRUSH, BLACKBIRD, JAY, MOORHEN, GREEN WOODPECKER, Tits and Finch's all were found.

The second half of my walk around the more wooded area of my patch, was also infested by dogwalkers! The first glimpse of sun for a while seems to have brought them all out. I did still find a few more species that I hadn't got on my list earlier though. GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER, TREECREEPER, LONG TAILED TIT and MALLARD were in the wet woods, where a SPARROWHAWK went gliding through, its legs dangling free, redy to strike. Nothing of any interest was on the lake, it had all been flushed off, but as I walked the footpath from the lake back to the wet woods, I saw a MARSH TIT pop into a hole in a tree, and a few seconds later come out again, was this its roost, or was it prospecting a nest site for the coming spring ? It would be a new bird to breed on my patch if it was the latter.

Coming out of the wet woods, I walked the edge of it, along Marchants field, and was pleased to find a LITTLE OWL staring down at me from above, also as I looked across the tree nursery, a KESTREL was seen to be hunting over at the greenhouses - the last species on my list of 46 for the day. Nothing new for the month, but with a few missing 'usually seen' species, such as Goldcrest, Redwing, Grey Heron, and Meadow Pipit, the day total could have easily reached an excellent 50.

Above and below is the Little Owl seen on the edge of the wet woods.

Below is a Teecreeper - again seen in the wet woods

Below is a photo of the footpath in the tree nursery, many parts of my patch are like this - muddy and flooded!

walrusbaker@hotmail.com (Warren Baker) — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 16:41:00 +0000

It didn't rain at all today, thats news in itself!

As I walked home from work this afternoon, across Migrant Alley, a female sparrowhawk flew just 15ft from me, a foot above the ground, i've not been seeing to much of the Sprawks recently.

My usual afternoon walk to the lake area was somewhat disturbed by a couple of dog walkers who were ahead of me, they turned off the footpath just before the lake, but had already scared off anything in the small holding and wet woods. Once at the lake it was just as I had left it yesterday, a few more MALLARDS had turned up, and three MOORHEN were establishing territories, a CORMORANT sat up in a large fir tree, it's usual perch. In the surrounding vegetation I again found COAL TIT and GOLDCREST, and also a FIELDFARE, unusual to seee one here, it had found some crab apples, and had them all to itself! Both SONGTHRUSH and MISTLE THRUSH were heard to sing from the scrubby area, and a quick look at the feeders in the adjacent garden provided all the common garden birds, BLUE and GREAT TIT, GOLDFINCH, CHAFFINCH, GREENFINCH, as well as a NUTHATCH.

I made a trip over to Migrant Alley in the gathering gloom, the sun was going down already, and it was only 15:30! I decided to sit on my seat and watch the area to see if anything passed over on the way to roost. I didn't wait long before two Cormorants flew over, I watched two dozen BLACK HEADED GULLS feeding out on the sheep pasture, and as I did, 3 SKYLARKS dropped in. A single MEADOW PIPIT flew over, but more interesting were 3 LESSER REDPOLL that went over going N. A cock PHEASANT was moving along the bottom of the tall hedge, which also had a WREN, a DUNNOCK, and ROBIN in it. By now it was getting quite dark, and also a bit cold, so I decided to head of home, as i did so, two groups of PIED WAGTAILS came over, and went onto the Greenhouses, where they roost, about 18 in all, but I'm sure many more will drop in later, also 23 LINNET flew over and circled the Tree Nursery, waiting for the work party to leave before they would settle down into the Laurel to roost. I also watched Chaffinch's and STARLINGS drop into a tall leylandi hedge that borders a garden, as good a place as any to roost up for the night.

Nothing new for the months list then, but i have the weekends morning visits to do yet, - weather permitting, it looks like its gong to be rain, rain, rain again!!!

Above is a Dunnock, which came out of the tall hedge as I sat on my seat at Migrant Alley. Below are the two Cormorant that flew over.

walrusbaker@hotmail.com (Warren Baker) — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 16:03:00 +0000

There were some good sunny spells for this afternoons walk - well for the first hour anyway, but as the sun started to go down, a large shower cloud came over and rain fell, by 15:30 I had to call it a day.

There were plenty of birds around the Small Holding again, BULLFINCH, CHAFFINCH, and GOLDFINCH all fed in various shrubs and berry bearing bushes, a GREEN WOODPECKER was on the floor below the pear trees, and two Jays screeched from an Oak. As I was just going into the wet woods I heard the trill of LONG TAILED TITS, I gave them a scan through, just in case something interesting was tagging along with them, but only found BLUE and GREAT TITS.

All was quiet in the wet woods, apart from a calling GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER, and a couple of scurrying MOORHENS, whilst the footpath leading to the lake area had a couple of GOLDCREST up in a conifer tree.

On to the lake, and what would I see today ? Not much is the answer, a lone CORMORANT was fishing there, but only two Moorhens and 8 MALLARD were seen, I think something or someone had already disturbed the area. I decided to go over to Migrant Alley, seeing a TREECREEPER, and a COAL TIT as I walked back into the wet woods.

Upon reaching Migrant Alley I could see the dark shower cloud looming overhead, so only 20mins was spent there, before the rain fell. The only birds of note were a couple of dozen BLACKHEADED GULLS and a MEADOW PIPIT sitting on the Greenhouse rooves.

So I still need four new species for the month, and just four more days to get them!

I took a few pics today, these are my efforts - in order of descending light!

Above: Male Chaffinch

Above and below : Coal Tit

Below: Meadow Pipit

Lastly a typical view of a TREECREEPER, as it moves round to the opposite side of the tree!

walrusbaker@hotmail.com (Warren Baker) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:14:00 +0000

I left for this afternoons patch walk in slightly better conditions than I have been used to of late, it was still on the windy side, but there were at least some sunny spells to be had. It was during such a sunny spell that I reached the small holding, where there was quite a bit of bird activity, 8 CHAFFINCH and a similar number of GOLDFINCH were around the pear trees, 3 BULLFINCH were in a bordering garden hedge, and a flock of mixed Tits, including at least 11 LONG TAILED, 6 GREAT, and 4 BLUE with a lone TREECREEPER in tow, were moving through the area.

Just two MALLARDS and a calling GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER were in the wet woods, and nothing much more was seen right until I reached the lake area. Once again I was eager to see if anything new had turned up there, but as is so often the case I was to be disappointed, still, if I found something new on every trip to the lake I'd only get bored! I did see at least 25 Mallard, and a few MOORHEN - as usual. I thought I would have time for a trip to Migrant Alley this afternoon, but as i looked across the lake, and skywards, I could see a huge black shower cloud coming over, so I decided I would sit out the rain in one of the run down shacks that over look the lake. Within a few minutes blackness decended, the wind got up to gale force and heavy driving rain came crashing down. As I watched the rain bouncing of the lakes surface during the worst of the shower, I caught something from the corner of my eye, it dropped in from the storm, a heron, I thought, a white heron - no, a LITTLE EGRET! Thats how heavy the rain was, I could hardly make out the pure white bird as it struggled to make a landing in amongst the overhanging trees. I couldn't see it from where I was, but as the rain eased, I went round to a better vantage point, and got a photo of it, then as I tried to move a bit closer, the Egret took of and went on it's way again. What a bit of luck! To have such a scarce bird for my patch drop in to sit out a shower, and I happened to be in the right place at the right time - thats 63 for the November list now, just four more new species in the next five days will take the November record, unlikely, but I might just do it ?

The last Littel Egret I had on my patch was on july 12th, but I also recorded one on March 14th they were flyovers, but on April 19th, one alighted in the same overhanging trees at the lake as todays bird, maybe it is the same bird ?

Above and below: One of the Long Tailed Tits at the small holding

below is a view through the wet woods - very bleak, even with the sun trying to shine

Lastly, the Little Egret, not much of a photo, but its the best I could do!

walrusbaker@hotmail.com (Warren Baker) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:50:00 +0000

Once again the weather was a feature on my afternoon patch walk today, though not as wet, there was a strong, and strengthening southerly wind blowing, but the showers remained light and squally.

Despite the conditions, I was again itching to get out and check the lake over, after yesterdays Little Grebe sighting I was feeling lucky! I passed through the small holding, and saw a flock of mixed CHAFFINCH and GOLDFINCH, they were tossed around like dried leaves in the wind, but managed to perch up in a hawthorn bush, where I checked them out unsuccessfully for for an elusive Brambling. A GREEN WOODPECKER, JAY and PIED WAGTAIL were under the pear trees, and a few BLUE and GREAT TITS were around the hedge.

I reached the wet woods, and was relieved not to have the wind blasting into me, but the roar of it in the tree tops meant the high pitched calls of any Goldcrest or Treecreeper that might have been there would be impossible to hear, but the much louder, stronger, ''kek'' of the GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER was heard. As I came out of the woods, and walked the footpath that leads to the lake area, I checked the well wooded gardens on each side of me, hoping to flush up a Woodcock, as I have done once in the past, or maybe locate a feeding flock of Long tailed tits, with a Firecrest among them, which I have also had the fortunate experience of doing - you can tell how optimistic I felt today! However neither happened, and I eagerly reached the lake, anticipating finding something different, or just to re-find yesterdays Grebe or sundays Coot. Upon scanning the water I was brought back down with a bump, it was back to MALLARDS and MOORHENS ! I counted 48 of the former and 7 of the later, and despite hanging around and continually checking the overhanging tree line, I couldn't find the Grebe. It may have been hiding up, as they can be very elusive, hopefully it was, and i'll find it again later this week.

I checked the garden feeders of the nearby house, finding the feeders empty, but in some alder trees close by was a small group of SISKIN, the scrubby area close by held a few BULLFINCH, but thats all I could find, the wind was making it impossible to pick out any bird calls, except that of the overwintering MARSH TIT, that ''pitchooed'' from a nearby hawthorn.

After only being out for around 90 mins, thick dark cloud came over, and a splattering of rain arrived, time for me to head off home, it was almost dark by 15:45! So no more new species were found for the November list, but I think Ive still got some enthusiasm left to get out again tomorrow. :-)