Up the Hill (2 Viewers)

[delia todd]

Today, the Whoopers have gone, to be replaced by 32 Mallard and a single male Wigeon - a new one for the patch. A Kestrel was hunting round the Gorse.

During a chat with Charlie (the farmer), I discovered that there had been about 13 Whooper Swans originally and that the Hen Harriers are still about.

He had arranged for some lads to do some clay pigeon shooting and they'd no sooner got started than all but 6 of the Mallards (with the Wigeon) took flight. The shooting did enable me to see that there were a number of Chaffinch in the kale, along with a few Linnet.

D

 

[delia todd]

Early December was dominated by incessant rain, later followed by sub-zero temperatures, making for an interesting drive on untreated single track roads.

The Mallard numbers dropped through 14, 10, 6 but now all gone as the lochan is frozen.

Early in the month 20 Fieldfares presented themselves, along with a Buzzard and a Kestrel. Chaffinch numbers are still very low with no sign yet of Brambling.

So now Rooks, Pheasant, Red Legged Partridge, Roe Deer and Rabbits seem to have the place to themselves.

D

 

[delia todd]

First visit of the year and hoping to add to my Year List of 16 from yesterday.

I sat on the moor overlooking the lochan (now almost ice free) having my lunch and saw er.... well - nothing for ages. Then half a dozen Rooks flopping about on the hill. Hmm this isn't looking so good really.

So I put my boots on and set off round the pasture field to see what was happening there. At last, at the far end where there's a little pond a statuesque Grey Heron and a male and female Mallard.

The row of trees running along the side of the field above the bubbling stream (don't get jealous Matt ) had suffered a few casualties in the New Year's Eve gale; two trees down and several weighty branches blown off.

Up at the barns, at last I heard something and there a flock of about 30 Fieldfares with 2 Starlings. A Buzzard was hunting back near the lochan.

Back at my car I decided to climb the gate and see if there were any finches in the Kale field - zilch but did rescue a cast ewe so that's my good deed for the year.

I left as the sun was descending into a ball of fire and a Mistle Thrush completed the day.

D

 

[delia todd]

Clear blue skies and frosty again today. Rather a nippy wind too.

Lunch overlooking the loch, which appeared to be deserted, but after a while no less than 13 Mallards appeared out of the grassy banks. A beautiful male Kestrel was sitting on top of the tree. Apart from that really quiet, couple of Rooks, heard a Pheasant calling. A few Chaffinch in the kale along with 2 Linnet.

Felt like some exercise and needed to break in my new boots so thought I'd go for a wander in the forest. It'd be out of the wind and I'd not been in there for ages.

Really quiet, hardly a sound for ages. Then I heard a Jay screech. After about half an hour or so I heard some twitterings - ah! Coal Tit (missing off my year list so far) so had a go at phishing and down they came - about half a dozen with a male and female Chaffinch.

Just as I was crossing the cattle grid on my way home a flock of about 30 Fieldfare flew across the road.

D

 

[delia todd]

My last visit before a short holiday.

Really wintery up there today with little flurries of snow. The lochan is frozen apart from a tiny bit with just 6 Mallard swimming in it. Apart from them I only saw a few Rooks and a Pheasant in the Kale field (now well eaten down by the sheep).

Driving slowly back passed the gorse bushes a little movement caught my eye, so I stopped to investigate. A first for the moorland a Goldcrest - quite made my day that!

D

 

[Henry B]

Nice one for the Goldcrest , Delia. They hardly ever sit still long enough for a piccy.

 

[delia todd]

They'd be bad enough for a DSLR Henry, hopeless with digiscoping.

Well after the excitement of last week thought it time to check out my Patch today.

A few Wood Pigeons and Rooks flying over and the lochan, though no longer frozen, looked absolutely lifeless to start with. Then I saw a blob on it.. that looks like.... surely not?

But it was... a Little Grebe Just the one and only 1 pair of Mallard. Made my day though.

Later I thought I'd scope around - I'm always looking for Ravens which I'm sure must be about but have never seen them there. A movement on the far hill caught my attention a pair of Hen Harriers displaying. I soon lost her in the brown heather, but followed him for a bit.

Seems life is returning to the hill!

D

 

[Henry B]

Another successful day Delia.

 

[Keith Dickinson]

Nice one Delia, displaying HH, you lucky person

 

[delia todd]

Yes, guys that was a good day but....

Monday: lochan frozen

Rooks, Crows and 2 Mallard on a tiny bit of ice-free water. That was it!

Today: Lovely spring-like weather, and the snow has nearly gone. Again, just a small area of the lochan is not frozen and there were 6 Whooper Swans and 24 Mallard.

Scoping around I saw a lovely male Stonechat sitting on a distant fence post then a male Hen Harrier started hunting round the heather. Two early Meadow Pipits in the remains of the kale.

D

 

[delia todd]

Another spring-like day today and things are beginning to hot up a bit.

The loch had 15 Mallard and a female Goldeneye, a new addition to the site. A singleton Oystercatcher has also arrived.

The pasture field was covered with Rooks and Jackdaws and the kale field had Crows, Fieldfare, Mistle Thrush, Chaffinch and Linnet.

On my way back a male Stonechat was sitting proudly on top of the gorse.

D

 

[Jos Stratford]

Another spring-like day today and things are beginning to hot up a bit.

Heading the other way here - perhaps minus 30 over the next two nights ...look after those Whoopers!

 

[delia todd]

Heading the other way here - perhaps minus 30 over the next two nights ...look after those Whoopers!

er.. unfortunately I um... seem to have mislaid them at the moment :-C

Remember to get that fire lit before your visitor comes

D

 

[Henry B]

Tut , Tut, Delia, that,s very careless of you. [ps,I have a confession to make.]

 

[delia todd]

Tut , Tut, Delia, that,s very careless of you. [ps,I have a confession to make.]

What you done now H?

D

 

[Henry B]

Look for odd behaviour thread.

 

[delia todd]

Dull, drizzly and a cold wind this afternoon.

However, I felt like some exercise so took a tramp through the bog and heather to see what was about.

I first walked the south side and saw nothing apart from the odd corvid flying overhead, however I did hear a Song Thrush and a Collared Dove (a first).

Crossing the road to come in sight of the loch 8 Mallards and now 3 Oystercatchers.

Heading back westwards now keeping down in the valley I was pulled up short by a song not heard for ages .... surely a Skylark! Searched the gloomy mist above but nothing. Retraced my steps to get closer.... and it all went quiet (apart from the wind whistling round my ears!). Continuing on my way, suddenly the air was full of song - definitely Skylarks must have been about 10 of them I'd think, but I only managed to see one in the air.

I wonder if these are 'mine' or a northwards movement?

D

 

[Henry B]

Delia, who was the " tramp " you took over the heather,anyone we know ? lol

 

[delia todd]

April Showers in February!

Two male Stonechats singing on the gorse this afternoon.

I could only hear one Skylark singing, but think there were some more hiding out in the long grass.

The Oystercatchers have increased to 10 now, but the Mallards are seemingly down to 5. And a Moorhen has arrived.

A skein of 18 Pinkfeet Geese flew over heading East, then 5 Mute Swans flew in circled round a couple of times then headed South.

As I was leaving a Pied Wagtail was seen sitting on a fence post beside the Kale field.

Not a bad day up there really.

D

 

[delia todd]

A nice day at last but ooh a cold wind!

Just a quick passing through visit but worth it to see that not only has the Little Grebe returned but brought matey along too. Heard them calling to each other as well. Mallards have shot back up to 16 again and the Oystercatchers are still there but only 8 today. Still just the single Moorhen seen, but then it took me a long time last year to confirm that there were two of them!

I watched 2 Buzzards for a while, definitely interacting with each other, so think they are a pair.

Just one Skylark seen again.

D