birdman
Tuesday 13th April 2004, 21:16
Dog-sitting continues, and as this has coincided with the light nights and fine weather, that means another journey outback in the guise of a dog-walk.
Just my eyes and ears this evening, as the dog is getting on a bit, and hers ain’t what they used to be.
Perhaps that’s why the numbers were down a bit, or perhaps it was the difference in weather. As I left an hour earlier, I expected about the same as yesterday, if not a little better, but things were noticeably less “busy” this evening. Although warmer during the day (the car was like an oven for the first time this year!) it was cooler and cloudier by the time my and my canine companion ventured out.
Starlings hit the list first this time, being noisier than the Skylark, and as I enter the open ground, 3 Mallards flew over, and a Green Woodpecker called.
Nothing much happened until the pond, which rewarded me only with a couple more ducks and a Coot, although soon the first Chiffchaff made itself noticed.
No Blackcap today, and a couple of frustrations as I had probable Goldcrest and probable Greater Spotted Woodpecker, but unfortunately neither got through Quality Control to make the list.
A few Woodpigeons were feeding in an adjacent field, and after noting a mixed bag of woodland birds, 10 Jackdaws were feeding in one of the fields close to the private garden.
Perhaps the highlight of the evening was a major commotion among the conifers, which sounded a little raptor-like to me, although very soon after the kerfuffle started, 2 Jays calling similarly headed in to the trees. Based on volume, there may have been many more in the trees, but 2 is all I can vouch for. The noise stopped for a short while after “my” two arrived, but started again soon after.
Other than that, things were pretty much of a muchness- but I have to say, after spending 10 years living in a flat with no garden, it’s great just to be able to get out when it’s fine.
:bounce:
The usual numbers…
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 : 3 (1)
Mallard : 12 (7)
Green Woodpecker : 3 (1)
Woodpigeon : 45 (30)
Moorhen : 1 (1)
Coot : 2 (1)
Black-headed Gull : 2 (2)
Kestrel : 2 (2)
Jay : 2 (2)
Magpie : 6 (2)
Jackdaw : 10 (10)
Carrion Crow : 5 (2)
Blackbird : 3 (1)
Starling : 3 (2)
Great Tit : 5 (2)
Blue Tit : 8 (3)
Chiffchaff : 2 (1)
Skylark : 5 (2)
Pied Wagtail : 1 (1)
Meadow Pipit : 1 (1)
Chaffinch : 9 (2)
Yellowhammer : 1 (1)
Reed Bunting : 1 (1)
Just my eyes and ears this evening, as the dog is getting on a bit, and hers ain’t what they used to be.
Perhaps that’s why the numbers were down a bit, or perhaps it was the difference in weather. As I left an hour earlier, I expected about the same as yesterday, if not a little better, but things were noticeably less “busy” this evening. Although warmer during the day (the car was like an oven for the first time this year!) it was cooler and cloudier by the time my and my canine companion ventured out.
Starlings hit the list first this time, being noisier than the Skylark, and as I enter the open ground, 3 Mallards flew over, and a Green Woodpecker called.
Nothing much happened until the pond, which rewarded me only with a couple more ducks and a Coot, although soon the first Chiffchaff made itself noticed.
No Blackcap today, and a couple of frustrations as I had probable Goldcrest and probable Greater Spotted Woodpecker, but unfortunately neither got through Quality Control to make the list.
A few Woodpigeons were feeding in an adjacent field, and after noting a mixed bag of woodland birds, 10 Jackdaws were feeding in one of the fields close to the private garden.
Perhaps the highlight of the evening was a major commotion among the conifers, which sounded a little raptor-like to me, although very soon after the kerfuffle started, 2 Jays calling similarly headed in to the trees. Based on volume, there may have been many more in the trees, but 2 is all I can vouch for. The noise stopped for a short while after “my” two arrived, but started again soon after.
Other than that, things were pretty much of a muchness- but I have to say, after spending 10 years living in a flat with no garden, it’s great just to be able to get out when it’s fine.
:bounce:
The usual numbers…
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 : 3 (1)
Mallard : 12 (7)
Green Woodpecker : 3 (1)
Woodpigeon : 45 (30)
Moorhen : 1 (1)
Coot : 2 (1)
Black-headed Gull : 2 (2)
Kestrel : 2 (2)
Jay : 2 (2)
Magpie : 6 (2)
Jackdaw : 10 (10)
Carrion Crow : 5 (2)
Blackbird : 3 (1)
Starling : 3 (2)
Great Tit : 5 (2)
Blue Tit : 8 (3)
Chiffchaff : 2 (1)
Skylark : 5 (2)
Pied Wagtail : 1 (1)
Meadow Pipit : 1 (1)
Chaffinch : 9 (2)
Yellowhammer : 1 (1)
Reed Bunting : 1 (1)