Down again today, 19th November,on a mild but quite overcast day.I get out of the car on the meadows and the area is alive with birds, a mixed flock of Goldfinches and Siskins are flying around calling, near the cattle grid. Overhead a group of 60 or so Jackdaws are suddenly calling loudly and a Blackbird is alarm calling also, a Mistle Thrush joins in the panic with its football rattle call.I scan the sky for a passing raptor, but to no avail,though a Grey Heron does fly over. All around birds are calling, and eventually a male Sparrowhawk moves over, though I am not sure it was him that caused the comotion.A group of 8 Magpies are still agitated and a Wren calls from somewhere unseen.A Great spotted Woodpecker flies over, with its distinctive undulating flight, and a group of 60+ Redwing are in the air too. More Jackdaws are swirling around and they must number close to 200 now, they are joined by a large Corvid which turns out to be a Raven, and a second Raven lands "gronking" in a tree before moving off to mob a passing Buzzard.Another raptor, this time a Kestrel, comes into view and hovers over the meadows. A dog walker goes by seemingly oblivious to the show being put on over her head.More and more birds are now in the area,Mallards, Greenfinches,Wood Pigeons,Black headed Gulls and a group of Long tailed Tits, which are searching for food in a Hawthorn tree, along with a single Blue Tit.
Spectacle over, I move onto the canal where a group of Moorhens are feeding on the grass, their tails flicking to reveal their white undertail coverts, 30 or so Mallards are also present here. A Dunnock flies out of a hedge, and more Siskins are hanging in the Alders at the canal side.A Jay flies across the Rugby pitches and further on in a small wooded area are at least 10 Blackbirds,Great Tits and a Song Thrush, which is in sub song. Robin,Wren and Dunnock are also singing along this stretch of the canal.
Heading towards High Peak Junction a couple of Goldcrests are seen,also there are the usual Little Grebes, but from here onwards there are less birds around.
Between the aquaduct and Gregory tunnel, I locate a few Treecreepers and stop to watch them as they probe for food amongst the bark. Only a couple of Nuthatch are added to the list until I turn to retrace my steps, where I finally get the first Chaffinch of the day. Back by HPJ a Grey Wagtail is on the roof of the work sheds. Back near the meadows and I hear Lesser Redpoll amongst another flock of Siskins.
39 Moorhen,15 Little Grebe.
Good numbers of Siskins and Redwing.