Had an unexpected free day today. I decided to go to Catherton Common, a place just 20 mins away but one I had only been to once before, when there was a Woodchat Shrike there in July and it suddenly became a very popular place! Last year there was a Hoopoe but that was before I was into birds. Today, I didn't know what to expect.
I made my way through the ferns and gorse, following sheep paths to an area where there are a few trees. I could see and hear many Blackbirds and some smaller finch types but realised I would have to try and get a lot closer if I was to id them.
The gorse was much taller than me in places and provided good cover. I got close to the trees and stooped down amongst the mud and cow muck and waited. Soon I had flocks of birds coming into the two trees by me. There were at least 40 Redwings, 30 Redpoll, 2 lovely little Goldcrests, a Wren, 6 Song Thrushes, 2 Warblers (don't ask me which!), Green, Gold and Chaffinchs, Blue, Great and Long Tailed Tits. A Jay arrived and 2 Green Woodpeckers flew across the Common calling as they went.
Several Buzzards circled above, one came low and looked right at me (see pic!) Kestrels sat on the wires and a Sparrowhawk zoomed out of a tree narrowly missing me! I took 103 pics but the camera kept focusing on the branches so they are rubbish, but I'll add a few anyway! LOL! I nearly got stuck in some rather deep mud/muck on the way back, my wellie sunk right in and I struggled to pull my leg out! Grabbing hold of the gorse didn't help either! :eek!: I'm still getting the thorns out of my fingers.
Stopped at Titterstone Clee after where there was just 1 Wheatear now (it's a breeding site), 2 Stonechats, 8 Pied Wagtails and many Meadow Pipits.
Thoroughly enjoyed my free day with so many surprises! The Redwings and Redpolls are the first to be reported in Shrops this winter, so that's exciting! And the Goldcrests were my first of the year. Can't wait till my next free day! |=)|
The pics are labelled (if you point to them) please do say if any are wrong! Especially if it is to tell me the Goldcrest is actually a Firecrest!
I made my way through the ferns and gorse, following sheep paths to an area where there are a few trees. I could see and hear many Blackbirds and some smaller finch types but realised I would have to try and get a lot closer if I was to id them.
The gorse was much taller than me in places and provided good cover. I got close to the trees and stooped down amongst the mud and cow muck and waited. Soon I had flocks of birds coming into the two trees by me. There were at least 40 Redwings, 30 Redpoll, 2 lovely little Goldcrests, a Wren, 6 Song Thrushes, 2 Warblers (don't ask me which!), Green, Gold and Chaffinchs, Blue, Great and Long Tailed Tits. A Jay arrived and 2 Green Woodpeckers flew across the Common calling as they went.
Several Buzzards circled above, one came low and looked right at me (see pic!) Kestrels sat on the wires and a Sparrowhawk zoomed out of a tree narrowly missing me! I took 103 pics but the camera kept focusing on the branches so they are rubbish, but I'll add a few anyway! LOL! I nearly got stuck in some rather deep mud/muck on the way back, my wellie sunk right in and I struggled to pull my leg out! Grabbing hold of the gorse didn't help either! :eek!: I'm still getting the thorns out of my fingers.
Stopped at Titterstone Clee after where there was just 1 Wheatear now (it's a breeding site), 2 Stonechats, 8 Pied Wagtails and many Meadow Pipits.
Thoroughly enjoyed my free day with so many surprises! The Redwings and Redpolls are the first to be reported in Shrops this winter, so that's exciting! And the Goldcrests were my first of the year. Can't wait till my next free day! |=)|
The pics are labelled (if you point to them) please do say if any are wrong! Especially if it is to tell me the Goldcrest is actually a Firecrest!
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