birdman
Sunday 11th April 2004, 23:28
Events and weather have conspired against us, and it has been two weeks since out last trip outback.
So we were pleased to be able to take advantage of the Easter weekend, the reasonable weather and a break in the gardening schedule to take a three hour trip around my patch this morning.
As is often the case, the first bird on the list was Skylark. We heard quite a number – often too many to distinguish between the singers so I may have understated the numbers somewhat! Also, before reaching the pond we were aware of a Chiffchaff calling. As our year first had made itself known last time round over towards the east of the area, we were hopeful that this would mean that more had arrived. In the end we were able to count at least four with a good degree of certainty.
The route was busy today (birdwise), plenty of noise, and like the Skylarks, there were too many woodland birds to count the different voices – although we did out best.
We soon heard, and then saw, the first of the day’s Green Woodpeckers, and came across two small groups of very “chilled” Bramblings, Whilst every other bird seemed to be in one frenzy or another, the Bramblings were serenely – lazily even – feeding, moving around only when the fancy took them.
Shortly afterwards we picked up the first of the day’s Yellowhammers.
Walking past the beet fields we disturbed a Mistle Thrush, which flew into the woods. Further “Mistle Thrush” commotion could then be heard in the woods, but it could have been the same bird.
And just over to the other side of the grassy field, tumbling above and below the horizon, a Lapwing – quickly followed (chronologically) by an overflying Grey Heron. It seemed to be making to land, but I imagine the pond would be too deep for a heron’s tastes.
As we got over to the eastern side, we noticed a couple of small birds in one of the large trees, and were arguing whether or not they were Long-tailed Tits (they were). As we tried to get a better view of the birds almost vertically above us, a Little Owl flew from the same tree – our first owl of the year!
A Coal Tit made itself known, fluttering across my path. I got the impression it had actually been on the ground next to me, and simply got too spooked causing to make for the trees. Of course, had it toughed it out, we would never have known it was there!
Nuthatches (and perhaps woodpeckers) could be heard in the trees, and we got great views of at least two Treecreepers.
Leaving the wooded area (although still sparsely treed) we saw the first of the Greater Spotted Woodpeckers. We eventually “counted” four, but with the extent of the drumming there may well have been more.
Then as we passed a small mature stand of trees, where the Jackdaw appear to be nesting, we heard a very strange (but raptor-reminiscent) call. Sure enough, a bit of patience, and we were rewarded with views of a Kestrel pair – perhaps bonding, perhaps already paired-up and nest building. I don’t know anything about Kestrel nesting habits, but it seems incongruous to think they actively build a nest. Nevertheless, once we knew what we were looking at, it was obvious a nest was well under construction, if not complete. I even thought that there might be a brood, but a check of my fieldguide suggests that it’s way too early.
A trip though the woods at the southern end brought more of many of the above, and added Goldcrest and a couple (pair?) of Song Thrush who seemed to be having a bit of a spat with a pair of Blackbirds about just who owned the place!
Then as we returned home, we were able to add Reed Bunting and Meadow Pipit.
A really good walk.
Just as a general comment, isn’t great to see all the birds (particularly males) in the prime at the moment – some fantastic colours!!!
Anyway, the usual numbers follow, but for a change (hopefully for the better) I have listed the species ided in “species order” (Sibley Monroe, for the record).
Plain text = Outback day tick
Bold text = Outback year tick
Bold italic text = Outback life tick
(Number in brackets is highest number of individuals identified at one time)
Pheasant : 4 (3)
Mallard : 5 (5)
Tufted Duck : 2 (2)
Greater Spotted Woodpecker : 4 (2)
Green Woodpecker : 5 (2)
Little Owl : 1 (1)
Woodpigeon : 14 (3)
Collared Dove : 3 (2)
Coot : 5 (1)
Lapwing : 1 (1)
Kestrel : 2 (2)
Grey Heron : 1 (1)
Magpie : 5 (2)
Jackdaw : 9 (4)
Carrion Crow : 3 (1)
Blackbird : 7 (2)
Song Thrush : 2 (2)
Mistle Thrush : 1 (1)
Robin : 5 (2)
Starling : 9 (9)
Nuthatch : 2 (1)
Treecreeper : 2 (2)
Coal Tit : 2 (1)
Great Tit : 13 (4)
Blue Tit : 22 (4)
Long-tailed Tit : 2 (2)
Goldcrest : 1 (1)
Chiffchaff : 4 (1)
Skylark : 8 (2)
Meadow Pipit : 2 (2)
Chaffinch : 12 (2)
Brambling : 7 (4)
Yellowhammer : 5 (2)
Reed Bunting : 1 (1)
So we were pleased to be able to take advantage of the Easter weekend, the reasonable weather and a break in the gardening schedule to take a three hour trip around my patch this morning.
As is often the case, the first bird on the list was Skylark. We heard quite a number – often too many to distinguish between the singers so I may have understated the numbers somewhat! Also, before reaching the pond we were aware of a Chiffchaff calling. As our year first had made itself known last time round over towards the east of the area, we were hopeful that this would mean that more had arrived. In the end we were able to count at least four with a good degree of certainty.
The route was busy today (birdwise), plenty of noise, and like the Skylarks, there were too many woodland birds to count the different voices – although we did out best.
We soon heard, and then saw, the first of the day’s Green Woodpeckers, and came across two small groups of very “chilled” Bramblings, Whilst every other bird seemed to be in one frenzy or another, the Bramblings were serenely – lazily even – feeding, moving around only when the fancy took them.
Shortly afterwards we picked up the first of the day’s Yellowhammers.
Walking past the beet fields we disturbed a Mistle Thrush, which flew into the woods. Further “Mistle Thrush” commotion could then be heard in the woods, but it could have been the same bird.
And just over to the other side of the grassy field, tumbling above and below the horizon, a Lapwing – quickly followed (chronologically) by an overflying Grey Heron. It seemed to be making to land, but I imagine the pond would be too deep for a heron’s tastes.
As we got over to the eastern side, we noticed a couple of small birds in one of the large trees, and were arguing whether or not they were Long-tailed Tits (they were). As we tried to get a better view of the birds almost vertically above us, a Little Owl flew from the same tree – our first owl of the year!
A Coal Tit made itself known, fluttering across my path. I got the impression it had actually been on the ground next to me, and simply got too spooked causing to make for the trees. Of course, had it toughed it out, we would never have known it was there!
Nuthatches (and perhaps woodpeckers) could be heard in the trees, and we got great views of at least two Treecreepers.
Leaving the wooded area (although still sparsely treed) we saw the first of the Greater Spotted Woodpeckers. We eventually “counted” four, but with the extent of the drumming there may well have been more.
Then as we passed a small mature stand of trees, where the Jackdaw appear to be nesting, we heard a very strange (but raptor-reminiscent) call. Sure enough, a bit of patience, and we were rewarded with views of a Kestrel pair – perhaps bonding, perhaps already paired-up and nest building. I don’t know anything about Kestrel nesting habits, but it seems incongruous to think they actively build a nest. Nevertheless, once we knew what we were looking at, it was obvious a nest was well under construction, if not complete. I even thought that there might be a brood, but a check of my fieldguide suggests that it’s way too early.
A trip though the woods at the southern end brought more of many of the above, and added Goldcrest and a couple (pair?) of Song Thrush who seemed to be having a bit of a spat with a pair of Blackbirds about just who owned the place!
Then as we returned home, we were able to add Reed Bunting and Meadow Pipit.
A really good walk.
Just as a general comment, isn’t great to see all the birds (particularly males) in the prime at the moment – some fantastic colours!!!
Anyway, the usual numbers follow, but for a change (hopefully for the better) I have listed the species ided in “species order” (Sibley Monroe, for the record).
Plain text = Outback day tick
Bold text = Outback year tick
Bold italic text = Outback life tick
(Number in brackets is highest number of individuals identified at one time)
Pheasant : 4 (3)
Mallard : 5 (5)
Tufted Duck : 2 (2)
Greater Spotted Woodpecker : 4 (2)
Green Woodpecker : 5 (2)
Little Owl : 1 (1)
Woodpigeon : 14 (3)
Collared Dove : 3 (2)
Coot : 5 (1)
Lapwing : 1 (1)
Kestrel : 2 (2)
Grey Heron : 1 (1)
Magpie : 5 (2)
Jackdaw : 9 (4)
Carrion Crow : 3 (1)
Blackbird : 7 (2)
Song Thrush : 2 (2)
Mistle Thrush : 1 (1)
Robin : 5 (2)
Starling : 9 (9)
Nuthatch : 2 (1)
Treecreeper : 2 (2)
Coal Tit : 2 (1)
Great Tit : 13 (4)
Blue Tit : 22 (4)
Long-tailed Tit : 2 (2)
Goldcrest : 1 (1)
Chiffchaff : 4 (1)
Skylark : 8 (2)
Meadow Pipit : 2 (2)
Chaffinch : 12 (2)
Brambling : 7 (4)
Yellowhammer : 5 (2)
Reed Bunting : 1 (1)