Baggeridge (1 Viewer)

Hi all,
Today i went to Baggeridge country park, i arrived at about 7:45 and was greeted by my first ever Blackcap, they are wonderful litlle birds. I then got a great view of a great spotted. I then carried on and sat down on a bench giving a great view, as i was sitting a female great tit keep flying about a metre away from me and i thought to myself, i have another nuthatch, but it wasn't of course. Somebody had left nuts on the post in frount of me and she wanted the nuts but was a bit weary of me, so i decided to move on. I then went by a pond and heard a comotion, it was canada goose warning a squirell. There were no Great crested grebes on the pond which suprised me as they normally are, probably just late arriving. I then went into the forest at himley hall and saw a female lesser spotted woodpecker, i also heard a green woodpecker but could not see it. I then continued and saw three nuthatches and chiff chaffs along with a couple of Goldcrests. I then continued onto farmland asnd saw a mystery bird, i didn't notice it until it flew, it flew low and had a very loud alarm call it was in the field about 20 metres from woodland, it was a phesant sized bird and was a goldy, briwn colour, any ideas. I then went into some more woodland and saw my first treecreeper along with another Nuthatch. In the air there were 4 Buzzard flying quite low and later on 2 Sparrowhawks patrolling the area. At this time it was about 1:45 and so i decided to head back, to my suprise i saw my First ever Swallow sitting on a wire about 20 yards from me, it must have arrived that morning as i didn't see it om my way past in the morning, there were only 2 Swallows there so they were ahead of the rest i presume.
A very enjoyable day, Steven

Hi Steven, what a great day! How many lifers there!?!

My guess at your mystery bird would be Red-legged Partridge, quite a bit smaller than a Pheasant but distance and light can deceive and they have a loud alarm call. Did you hear a 'whirring' of wings as it flew off?

Enjoy the rest of your Easter Holiday!! (I'm jealous)!

Regards,

Just the three lifers today Darren,
I really can't remember anything except for those few detaild, i was startled and could,nt get focused in time to take accurate notes. I would of followed it to where it landed but it was in the middle of the field and the farmer was in his garden, i didn't want to risk getting shot at with hard, dried rabbit poo, well that is suppose to happen.

Ha Ha!That would be an awful lot of rabbit droppings Steven.

There was a case of a Pratincole on private land a few years back, where 2 eminent birders went to see it, hid in a bush and got sprayed with manure by a farmer! As I recall, their car broke down on the way home and they had to take public transport! That would have been pleasant for their fellow travellers as it was a hot summers day!

I guess seeing the Ptratincloe more than made up for their blushes!

Ha, Ha,
Yeah i guess!

Sounds like you had a great day, Steven! And I'm envious of your Lesser spotted! I'll have to pop over to have a look at Himley, as I haven't been over there yet!

Can't think what your mystery bird is . . . darren is probably right in that it was a partridge, but could it have been a female peasant, er, pheasant?

Stay clear of the rabbits!

Al

I would agree with Monkeyman's 2nd assessment of it possibly being a female Pheasant.

Excellent day there Steven, especially the Lesser spotted Woodpecker. That is an excellent find for a seasoned birder never mind someone that is new to the Hobby. Well done.

Does he have a Hobby yet??