Just a shorty - birds noticed during my walks.
Blackbirds are very active (especially the males) and I wonder if the numbers are up prior to some emigration. A beautiful pair of Goldcrests along the spit; I stood next to them at arm's length as they checked the dead seed heads and curled up leaves. Robins all paired up suddenly; that's reduced the chasing! The Shovelers seemed paired off also; I noticed 4 pairs. I counted 6 Coots that had returned to find a nest site; 2 seemed to have formed a pair. Dunnocks are just about everywhere, especially bordering the paths/grass and the rougher vegetation alongside. 26 Goldfinches in the willows to the north of 'Fingers', all chattering away to each other, was a pleasing sight - and sound. The Lottis were busy on all three days at the peanuts, but I've not seen any with nest material yet (but it shouldn't be long). Another confiding species has been the Chaffinches suddenly; just a temporary phase, I suspect. I also had a flighty Fieldfare spring out of some bushes and a couple of Redwings pass over. And isn't it grand to hear the Chiffs once more!! Also, don't forget DK's female Stonechat!
PS. 101 Poch on 23rd; 2 GBBG on 27th; also pr Treecreeper nr.Sedgewick.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Saturday 21st February
A good morning around the park. Saw Errol in the Rough and were there when the 2 Sky Larks passed over. The Chiffy was very vocal and mobile, moving between the Steps and Rough Gate using the Willows. On west Fingers a lone Great Crested Grebe was constructing a platform from the reeds and twigs. No sign of a mate though. Little else of note on the 2 largest lakes and just a couple of Little Grebe and a pair of Teal in front of Kramer hide. A second singing Chiffchaff was in the vicinity of the hide although not as noisy as the Rough bird.
Along the Woodland Walk a large party of at least 16 Magpies caught our attention and then the raucous call of a Jay and a flyby was good to see.
No sign of last weeks Pied Wagtails on Kingsmead but we did have a fly over Meadow Pipit. Back on Kingsmead Moorhen numbers were in the teens and a small party of Canada Geese were grazing along with a dozen Wood Pigeons.
On the main lake:
128 (16f) Pochard
3m Tufted
29 Shoveler
9 Great Crested Grebe
16 Cormorant (mostly roosting in the south side trees)
Neither sight nor sound of a Kingfisher this week, a rare occurrence around the park.
Along the Woodland Walk a large party of at least 16 Magpies caught our attention and then the raucous call of a Jay and a flyby was good to see.
No sign of last weeks Pied Wagtails on Kingsmead but we did have a fly over Meadow Pipit. Back on Kingsmead Moorhen numbers were in the teens and a small party of Canada Geese were grazing along with a dozen Wood Pigeons.
On the main lake:
128 (16f) Pochard
3m Tufted
29 Shoveler
9 Great Crested Grebe
16 Cormorant (mostly roosting in the south side trees)
Neither sight nor sound of a Kingfisher this week, a rare occurrence around the park.
Friday 20th Feb & follow up
A check on the feeding station yesterday (Fri) surrendered the following to the ringers.
Dunnock 2, Robin 1, Blackbird 2, Long-tailed Tit 2, Blue Tit 11, Great Tit 8 & Chaffinch 1.
This was in contrast to an early morning visit to the Rough the day after. A female Gt.Spot on the feeder (a male in the willows), a noisy Wren, a party of 3 Dunnocks chasing around, 2 prs of Robin, at least 3 male Blackbirds (both birds on Fri were female), 2 territorial (singing/fighting) male Song Thrushes (and another singing down by the Crescent), a very vocal Chiffchaff, 2 small family parties of Long-tailed Tits on different feeders, 4 Magpies having a battle over this part of the long hedge (I noted a new nest has been built), 3+ Chaffinches, a lone 'wheezing' Greenfinch, 7 Goldfinches in the tallest tree (the Locust) and last but not least, 3 pairs of Bullfinches - yes three!, again having a bit of a "todo".
There were also 2 Sky Larks over, a Shelduck and a sinensis Cormorant.
Dunnock 2, Robin 1, Blackbird 2, Long-tailed Tit 2, Blue Tit 11, Great Tit 8 & Chaffinch 1.
This was in contrast to an early morning visit to the Rough the day after. A female Gt.Spot on the feeder (a male in the willows), a noisy Wren, a party of 3 Dunnocks chasing around, 2 prs of Robin, at least 3 male Blackbirds (both birds on Fri were female), 2 territorial (singing/fighting) male Song Thrushes (and another singing down by the Crescent), a very vocal Chiffchaff, 2 small family parties of Long-tailed Tits on different feeders, 4 Magpies having a battle over this part of the long hedge (I noted a new nest has been built), 3+ Chaffinches, a lone 'wheezing' Greenfinch, 7 Goldfinches in the tallest tree (the Locust) and last but not least, 3 pairs of Bullfinches - yes three!, again having a bit of a "todo".
There were also 2 Sky Larks over, a Shelduck and a sinensis Cormorant.
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