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Grimley and Holt (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Brian Stretch
- Start date
luckyosprey4
Well-known member
Thanks all for your responses- hopefully will go there tomorrow as well as the wider Grimley area.
Chris
Chris
luckyosprey4
Well-known member
Spent around 2 and a half hours at Grimley this morning, starting at Camp Lane Pits. The pool was almost completely frozen but held Mute Swan, 1 Canada Goose, Little Grebe, Wigeon, Gadwall, Pochard, Teal, Mallard, Tufted Duck and 2 Snipe.
At Church Farm Pits the female American Wigeon was located on the far bank.
We could not locate the Water Pipit but saw 13 Pied Wagtail, and whilst we were waiting 23 Canada Goose and 52 Cormorant flew over, the latter in two flocks of 28 and 24.
The fields around Top Barn Farm produced 29 Lapwing, 30 Starling, 1 Buzzard and a flock of 28+ Redwing.
On the River Severn by Holt Fleet was a female Goosander.
Chris
At Church Farm Pits the female American Wigeon was located on the far bank.
We could not locate the Water Pipit but saw 13 Pied Wagtail, and whilst we were waiting 23 Canada Goose and 52 Cormorant flew over, the latter in two flocks of 28 and 24.
The fields around Top Barn Farm produced 29 Lapwing, 30 Starling, 1 Buzzard and a flock of 28+ Redwing.
On the River Severn by Holt Fleet was a female Goosander.
Chris
January was a month of moderate weather ,not a lot of rain ,above average temperature with few frosts, and mainly light winds . 73 species seen with American wigeon, smew, goldeneye and water pipit the high lights.
My first trip in February however started with a beautiful clear day at-5c . Most of the still water was 90% frozen and didn’t started to unfreeze before midday. Camp lane quiet didn’t see any goldeneye although a lot of the ducks were tucked in under the banks. From the camp inn upriver a kingfisher by the lock, pair of goosander wooded area as was a female sparrow hawk . Jackdaws pairing up and investigating holes in ash trees as were stock doves.
American wigeon feeding on grass bank church farm North and 2 stonechat. Wagon wheel the 2 Male pintail remain and 2 red-legged partridge and 2grey wagtail adjacent field. Male sparrowhawk over wood.
Sling /Holt only teal on sling pool but my first jay of the year on the way to the castle. Continuing on and kestrel on the wires . Overlooking the sheep grazed field 1000+ field fare and 300starlings field to right and lapwings with 5 golden plover in front and to the left, a new bird for me at Grimley/Holt.
My first trip in February however started with a beautiful clear day at-5c . Most of the still water was 90% frozen and didn’t started to unfreeze before midday. Camp lane quiet didn’t see any goldeneye although a lot of the ducks were tucked in under the banks. From the camp inn upriver a kingfisher by the lock, pair of goosander wooded area as was a female sparrow hawk . Jackdaws pairing up and investigating holes in ash trees as were stock doves.
American wigeon feeding on grass bank church farm North and 2 stonechat. Wagon wheel the 2 Male pintail remain and 2 red-legged partridge and 2grey wagtail adjacent field. Male sparrowhawk over wood.
Sling /Holt only teal on sling pool but my first jay of the year on the way to the castle. Continuing on and kestrel on the wires . Overlooking the sheep grazed field 1000+ field fare and 300starlings field to right and lapwings with 5 golden plover in front and to the left, a new bird for me at Grimley/Holt.
binus1963
Well-known member
nice day out
went down sunday finally got to grips with where's where down there good walk lovely day saw most of it but as i was going through the wigeon someone walked past and off they went still got the pipit, cheers for all the info both on here and in person whilst walking round.
went down sunday finally got to grips with where's where down there good walk lovely day saw most of it but as i was going through the wigeon someone walked past and off they went still got the pipit, cheers for all the info both on here and in person whilst walking round.
Attachments
Started with rain and very overcast but later cleared to quiet a nice day. Holt treecreeper on way to castle and beyond a green sandpiper lagoon and a single golden plover which later left south 9:45am. C25 wigeon and c300 lapwing also. A mixed flock of 100+ goldfinch /Siskin alders grebe pool, may have been other species but light really poor.
On to Camp Lane and 11 species of duck seen here ,female American wigeon west shore Male goldeneye hippo pool (unusual location for this species), female goldeneye main pit north. Female pintail middle fenceline as were 2 female goosander. A common gull was washing ,with a group of black headed gulls new for the year.
A water rail was on the east shore tail cocked as it worked it’s way along the bank and a pair of stonechat same location .
63 species seen 3 new for the year. Perhaps the first midweek evening visit weather permitting on Tuesday , an owl hunt.
On to Camp Lane and 11 species of duck seen here ,female American wigeon west shore Male goldeneye hippo pool (unusual location for this species), female goldeneye main pit north. Female pintail middle fenceline as were 2 female goosander. A common gull was washing ,with a group of black headed gulls new for the year.
A water rail was on the east shore tail cocked as it worked it’s way along the bank and a pair of stonechat same location .
63 species seen 3 new for the year. Perhaps the first midweek evening visit weather permitting on Tuesday , an owl hunt.
Hi folks, i was bird watching at Grimley this morning and spotted a cormorant with a white head and white patch on its wing. From what i can gather this isn't unusual but could someone be kind enough to give me any info. I guess it's not a separate species for my year list! and i don' t think it was leucistic? Sorry for questions if its a common phenomenon - i'm fairly new to birding, atb, steve.
Woodchat
Cogito ergo sum
This might help:
https://britishbirds.co.uk/article/the-spring-plumage-of-the-cormorant/
The white head plumage is a trait that affects up to 15% of adults in spring - the extent depends on age and sex. They may also develop square white patches on their thighs at this time of year.
There is a continental race, 'sinensis' but for positive id this requires detailed views (e.g. angle of gular pouch) - not sure how frequently they are discovered in the UK.
Tuesday evening arrived 5:00pm Camp Lane about 500 lapwing and 300 starling circling the North end . There was a pair of goldeneye being followed by a second drake posturing. Good numbers of tufted duck , pochard and wigeon.
An oystercatcher was a new bird flying up and down the pits calling. A large flock of mainly jackdaws 1000+ coming into the wood on the west.
Approaching the sunken fence and looking over to the east shoreline fields barn owl at 5:25pm looks like the bird from last year quiet dark backed, visible hunting for 20 minutes.
Didn’t hear any other owls but walking through the fields at the back of the village 2 snipe flew over calling.
An oystercatcher was a new bird flying up and down the pits calling. A large flock of mainly jackdaws 1000+ coming into the wood on the west.
Approaching the sunken fence and looking over to the east shoreline fields barn owl at 5:25pm looks like the bird from last year quiet dark backed, visible hunting for 20 minutes.
Didn’t hear any other owls but walking through the fields at the back of the village 2 snipe flew over calling.
Sunday morning, after seeing that yellowhammers had arrived back in the field hedge by my home ,i was hopeful that some would be passing through Grimley, but after 6 hours i'd had no luck.
However while looking for the elusive buntings Camp lane held a first wintergreat black-backed gull washing on the main pit, 2 female, 1 male goldeneye. Singing skylarks and chaffinch +great-crested grebes displaying. A single oystercatcher hippo.
On the way to W.W. pits a curlew flew north at 10:45 so must of passed over Camp lane , and a female sparrowhawk church farm fishing pools. Wagon wheel quiet with only a female goosander of note.
Holt/Sling green sandpiper, 100+ lapwing and a very elegant redshank an early record for me , along with 2 oystercatcher, ---are we having wader passage already.
64 species seen.
However while looking for the elusive buntings Camp lane held a first wintergreat black-backed gull washing on the main pit, 2 female, 1 male goldeneye. Singing skylarks and chaffinch +great-crested grebes displaying. A single oystercatcher hippo.
On the way to W.W. pits a curlew flew north at 10:45 so must of passed over Camp lane , and a female sparrowhawk church farm fishing pools. Wagon wheel quiet with only a female goosander of note.
Holt/Sling green sandpiper, 100+ lapwing and a very elegant redshank an early record for me , along with 2 oystercatcher, ---are we having wader passage already.
64 species seen.
You twitched my owl :-O what a cracker , with close views has to be near the top of any birders list.
I did mate and the best views of one I've had at Grimley in a very long time :t::t:
Tuesday evening ,after one of the hottest February days on record, still 16c at 5:00pm there were some surprises install. Sling pool held 150+ lapwing 5 species of duck and 4 snipe , with a flock of 30+ pied wagtail in with the sheep.
On to Camp Lane, from the north causeway 4 goldeneye...1 drake mixed with 8 pochard. Water rail calling from various places . Overhead perhaps a murmuration of 1000+ starling coming into roost at 6:00pm . Barn Owl east shore for 15 mins at 5:50pm and it did catch prey twice , although my attention drifted to a sand martin which flew up and down the causeway for a couple of minutes before flying south. The earliest ever record for me by some margin .
Have i got your attention, I then headed for the village and on down towards the river . At the double footpath gate 6:15pm Little Owl in the oaks.
At the river i was hoping to hear a tawny owl but the traffic noise from the Kiddy --Worcs road drowned out everything . So back up through wagon wheel and grimley brook was uneventful.
On to Camp Lane, from the north causeway 4 goldeneye...1 drake mixed with 8 pochard. Water rail calling from various places . Overhead perhaps a murmuration of 1000+ starling coming into roost at 6:00pm . Barn Owl east shore for 15 mins at 5:50pm and it did catch prey twice , although my attention drifted to a sand martin which flew up and down the causeway for a couple of minutes before flying south. The earliest ever record for me by some margin .
Have i got your attention, I then headed for the village and on down towards the river . At the double footpath gate 6:15pm Little Owl in the oaks.
At the river i was hoping to hear a tawny owl but the traffic noise from the Kiddy --Worcs road drowned out everything . So back up through wagon wheel and grimley brook was uneventful.
