Wednesday 3 March 2010

Not quite so spring-like today, it was cooler with a biting easterly wind, but some sunny spells were had.

This afternoon I spent 2 hours walking the wet woods, small holding and lake area, picking up all the woodland specialists as I wandered through. NUTHATCH, COAL TIT, TREECREEPER, LONG TAILED TIT and GOLDCREST were all showing signs of courtship, but the sighting of not one, but two MARSH TITS (46) was a surprise. Normally this species over winters on my patch, in just singles, or in last years case a pair, but this winter the single bird has been joined late on by another, they chased about and some song was heard from the presumed male, a song i'm not familiar with, but I know it know! I wonder if they will possible stay to breed, it would be a patch first for this species if they did.

There was a surprise waiting for me on the lake today as well, a BARNACLE GOOSE (70, 47) Obviously a feral bird, and probably the same bird I encountered here last year, but i'm counting it, the year list moves on! Another nice sighting was of the COOT, yes, it has now stayed for ten days, making it the longest staying Coot ever on my patch ( I must remember to take down a crust of bread for it!) After walking around the scrub, trying, and failing, to get a photo of a BULLFINCH, I returned to the lake to find a CORMORANT fishing there, quite busy on the water today, what a difference when the Chainsaws aren't disturbing the place!

Only 30 more species to find for the ''100'' mark, easier said than done though!

I got some decent Treecreeper photo's today, here's the best three.



This GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER was in the wte woods, they look better in a tree than on my peanut feeder.

New for the year, species number 70, the Barnacle Goose

Not forgetting the Coot of course, I wonder if it will attract a mate and Breed ? Never had a breeding Coot on my patch before.







11 comments:

Phil said...

Super 'creeper shots Warren, very impressed!

Greenie said...

Warren ,
The new camera/lens obviously likes Tree Creeper .
You're not really going to count the Feral Barnacle , are you ?

Warren Baker said...

The feral Barnacle is on the list greenie. :-) its on the british list, so its on mine :-)

Chris said...

Well done Warren on the barnacle... 70 species for the year, not bad mate! Guess what still 9 months to go, so I guess the 100 are not so far ;-) I love the tree creeper shots!!

ShySongbird said...

Great Tree Creeper photos Warren! Also the GSW. I hope that solitary Coot gets a mate soon.

Our weather has been about the same as yours with a vicious cold wind.

Phil said...

Warren, don't you go ticking me off about my Feral Pigeon any more!:-)

Forest the Bear said...

Great Tree Creeper shots Warren, a very beautiful bird.

Jann said...

More great photos Warren, nice!! I see by other comments you got a new camera, I somehow missed that but I can see the difference.

Anonymous said...

Nice ones Warren. I`m still waiting to add something to the year list. Not be long now :-)

swatson said...

oh Warren!!!!! just love your photos of the lovely little treecreeper
Sheila

kirstallcreatures said...

Great pic of the Treecreeper in profile. Linda