Friday 11 March 2016

Dense fog covered the area this morning, not clearing till almost 10:00hrs, but when it did clear, there was some lovely spring sunshine to be enjoyed.


Fog.....hopeless for birding. This is the view out onto the Ashes Lane Fields.......or not!

Despite the fog, I decided to undertake a full patch walk, in which the four hours produced 44 species, not too bad, with the likes of Herring Gull and Bullfinch failing to show today. I added MANDARIN DUCK (57) to the March list though, when a pair flew from the main lake, just as well they did as I wouldn't have known they were there otherwise! The MUTE SWAN pair and the COOT pair both came over to the bank to see if I had some food for them, which on this occasion I did  :-)

TREECREEPER, NUTHATCH, GOLDCREST, LONG TAILED TIT, COAL TIT, JAY, STOCK DOVE, GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER and GREEN WOODPECKER were the best of what was seen in the Scrubby Woods and Wet Woods, while the Small Holding area was only noteworthy for a few LESSER REDPOLL that had come from my garden.

Only the last hour of my visit was spent in fog free conditions, which I spent looking round the Greenhouse Grounds and Migrant Alley, the former habitat once again hosted the KESTREL pair, which once again were seen mating, also a small gathering of 6 SISKIN were seen in the Alders, allowing some more images of them to be had.


Siskin


Out on the sheep pasture and paddocks of Migrant Alley there were 100+ BLACK HEADED GULLS, but no other gull species was among them. Flyovers from SKYLARK, PIED WAGTAIL and a flock of 20-30 FIELDFARE with at least 4 REDWING were noted, plus the local BUZZARD pair were soaring over the fields.


This CARRION CROW was also in the Alders, looking well pleased, as the farmers / landowners have given him an easy job of finding any early bird nests to rob with their over zealous hedge cutting.


I shant blame the Crow for doing what is natural though.

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