birdman
Saturday 17th January 2004, 17:42
Another report from my local patch.
Saturday dawned cold and frosty... apparently, because I wasn't up then, but I did manage to stir in time for a patrol round my patch starting at 9am.
The weather was mainly sunny and still cold, with a widespread, but not severe frost.
After leaving the estate, the first obvious bird activity was the small colony of Black-headed Gulls that seem to have taken residence, and whose numbers today were 20, although 1 perhaps was an interloper as it flew off into the distance before long.
Also, for the second time this year, I was pleased to hear a Skylark singing. It certainly reminds me of spring, and the possiblity of getting out at some time other than weekends!
The pond was completely frozen over, except where the streams were flowing into the gradually increasing water. After almost completely drying out last year, the pond has finally received enough water to complete the "ring" and the central island is an island once more.
Due perhaps to the ice, the acitivity on the water was limited, although the Heron was disturbed enough to fly around and probably rest elsewhere.
There was much foraging in the undergrowth, mostly by Blackbirds I imagine, although I may have caught the back end of a Wren once or twice as it flitted around in a low green shrub.
I also heared the first of 6, 7 maybe 8 calls by a Green Woodpecker (or more than 1?)
There were a number of birds in the trees, but as most of the branches were in silhouette it was difficult to make out anything until it moved, at which time I was usually able to mentally note it as "1 LSJ" (Little Silhouetted Job)!
Reaching the wooded area near the hotel grounds, the light improved, and there was plenty of activity once again, including the drumming of a Woodpecker. It took a little while, and a bit of patience, but I did eventually track him down, and was rewadred with a good view for... well... a couple of seconds or so!
It was here previously, in the adjacent field to be precise, that I saw the covey of unidentified Partridges. As it happens, the beet crop has been dug, and therefore there was no greenery to hide in, and with the frost, there was an increased chance of seeing something that normally secreted itself in the ground cover - so I scanned in the hope of finding and iding them this time. I drew a blank Partridge-wise but did see 7 (perhaps a couple more) Pied Wagtails feeding.
A little further along, and I was treated to excellent views of a Goldcrest in plain view less than 30 feet away, with another 2 closeby, as well as noisy Nuthatches higher in the trees.
As I rounded the corner to make my way back home, I saw a Buzzard coming into view, before eventually it circled away to where I suspect is "home".
And FINALLY after so many calls, I got great views of a Green Woodpecker as it flew across my path, maybe 30 yards ahead, in full sunlight. Excellent birds!
As I reached the corner close to the railway line, I noticed 3 (and then perhaps a further 2) green finch-like birds squabbling in the grassy field by the path. Whilst in the air, they appeared bright yellow-green, but disappeared from view on the ground. Perhaps Greenfinches, perhaps Yellowhammers or maybe even both. Then again... maybe something else, eh?
Back from the railway line towards the pond, I inadvertantly spooked a foraging group of about 30-odd birds. Around 10 of these were Redwing, which after assessing the situation from the branches, chose to fly elsewhere, whilst the rest all semed to be Chaffinches, apart form the odd Blue or Great Tit.
As I approached the pond, 4 Mallard were flying of in swift formation, whilst 4 Moorhen were grubbing around the pond-edge.
I went looking for Bullfinch, in the place we had seen them last week, but was not lucky... but this was made up for somewhat by the first sighting of Coot on the pond for a long while... if memory serves!
Quite a decent morning... well less than two hours, as I had "things to do", and by 1045 I was back home.
The numbers follow, but what I've decided to try this time (if it makes any sense) is to show both the "Count" - that is to say the number of distinct individuals that I am reasonably confident I have seen (usual caveats!) - and then in brackets, the highest number if individuals identified at one time. Let me know if it works!
Plain text = Outback day tick
Bold text = Outback year tick
Bold italic text = Outback life tick
Starling : 5 (4)
Skylark : 1 (1)
Black-headed Gull : 20 (20)
Carrion Crow : 15 (4)
Magpie : 9 (2)
Mallard : 4 (4)
Blackbird : 14 (3)
Grey Heron : 1 (1)
Chaffinch : c30 (c20)
Blue Tit : 8 (2)
Long-tailed Tit : 17 (7)
Woodpigeon : c44 (26)
Green Woodpecker : 1 (1)
Coal Tit : 2 (1)
Great Tit : 9 (2)
Pied Wagtail : 7 (7)
Great Spotted Woodpecker : 1 (1)
Nuthatch : 3 perh. 4 (2)
Goldcrest : 3 (3)
Buzzard : 1 (1)
Redwing : c10 (c10)
Moorhen : 4 (4)
Coot : 2 (2)
In addition, after being home for about an hour, as I was looking from the upstairs window, I saw one of the local Kestrels hovering.
Three year-ticks for my Outback today, takes the species count up to 40 for 2004, while my yearlist remains on 56.
Saturday dawned cold and frosty... apparently, because I wasn't up then, but I did manage to stir in time for a patrol round my patch starting at 9am.
The weather was mainly sunny and still cold, with a widespread, but not severe frost.
After leaving the estate, the first obvious bird activity was the small colony of Black-headed Gulls that seem to have taken residence, and whose numbers today were 20, although 1 perhaps was an interloper as it flew off into the distance before long.
Also, for the second time this year, I was pleased to hear a Skylark singing. It certainly reminds me of spring, and the possiblity of getting out at some time other than weekends!
The pond was completely frozen over, except where the streams were flowing into the gradually increasing water. After almost completely drying out last year, the pond has finally received enough water to complete the "ring" and the central island is an island once more.
Due perhaps to the ice, the acitivity on the water was limited, although the Heron was disturbed enough to fly around and probably rest elsewhere.
There was much foraging in the undergrowth, mostly by Blackbirds I imagine, although I may have caught the back end of a Wren once or twice as it flitted around in a low green shrub.
I also heared the first of 6, 7 maybe 8 calls by a Green Woodpecker (or more than 1?)
There were a number of birds in the trees, but as most of the branches were in silhouette it was difficult to make out anything until it moved, at which time I was usually able to mentally note it as "1 LSJ" (Little Silhouetted Job)!
Reaching the wooded area near the hotel grounds, the light improved, and there was plenty of activity once again, including the drumming of a Woodpecker. It took a little while, and a bit of patience, but I did eventually track him down, and was rewadred with a good view for... well... a couple of seconds or so!
It was here previously, in the adjacent field to be precise, that I saw the covey of unidentified Partridges. As it happens, the beet crop has been dug, and therefore there was no greenery to hide in, and with the frost, there was an increased chance of seeing something that normally secreted itself in the ground cover - so I scanned in the hope of finding and iding them this time. I drew a blank Partridge-wise but did see 7 (perhaps a couple more) Pied Wagtails feeding.
A little further along, and I was treated to excellent views of a Goldcrest in plain view less than 30 feet away, with another 2 closeby, as well as noisy Nuthatches higher in the trees.
As I rounded the corner to make my way back home, I saw a Buzzard coming into view, before eventually it circled away to where I suspect is "home".
And FINALLY after so many calls, I got great views of a Green Woodpecker as it flew across my path, maybe 30 yards ahead, in full sunlight. Excellent birds!
As I reached the corner close to the railway line, I noticed 3 (and then perhaps a further 2) green finch-like birds squabbling in the grassy field by the path. Whilst in the air, they appeared bright yellow-green, but disappeared from view on the ground. Perhaps Greenfinches, perhaps Yellowhammers or maybe even both. Then again... maybe something else, eh?
Back from the railway line towards the pond, I inadvertantly spooked a foraging group of about 30-odd birds. Around 10 of these were Redwing, which after assessing the situation from the branches, chose to fly elsewhere, whilst the rest all semed to be Chaffinches, apart form the odd Blue or Great Tit.
As I approached the pond, 4 Mallard were flying of in swift formation, whilst 4 Moorhen were grubbing around the pond-edge.
I went looking for Bullfinch, in the place we had seen them last week, but was not lucky... but this was made up for somewhat by the first sighting of Coot on the pond for a long while... if memory serves!
Quite a decent morning... well less than two hours, as I had "things to do", and by 1045 I was back home.
The numbers follow, but what I've decided to try this time (if it makes any sense) is to show both the "Count" - that is to say the number of distinct individuals that I am reasonably confident I have seen (usual caveats!) - and then in brackets, the highest number if individuals identified at one time. Let me know if it works!
Plain text = Outback day tick
Bold text = Outback year tick
Bold italic text = Outback life tick
Starling : 5 (4)
Skylark : 1 (1)
Black-headed Gull : 20 (20)
Carrion Crow : 15 (4)
Magpie : 9 (2)
Mallard : 4 (4)
Blackbird : 14 (3)
Grey Heron : 1 (1)
Chaffinch : c30 (c20)
Blue Tit : 8 (2)
Long-tailed Tit : 17 (7)
Woodpigeon : c44 (26)
Green Woodpecker : 1 (1)
Coal Tit : 2 (1)
Great Tit : 9 (2)
Pied Wagtail : 7 (7)
Great Spotted Woodpecker : 1 (1)
Nuthatch : 3 perh. 4 (2)
Goldcrest : 3 (3)
Buzzard : 1 (1)
Redwing : c10 (c10)
Moorhen : 4 (4)
Coot : 2 (2)
In addition, after being home for about an hour, as I was looking from the upstairs window, I saw one of the local Kestrels hovering.
Three year-ticks for my Outback today, takes the species count up to 40 for 2004, while my yearlist remains on 56.