...or should that be "not so good". Very blustery conditions but thankfully dry and the flood water has receded somewhat. The water is draining back through the pipe, from Fingers to the navigation channel.
Made an early start but sadly forgot to pick up my bins before I left the house (DOH!). At Kramer hide a pair of Teal, pair of Mallard and a few Moorhens. Also a lovely Green Woodpecker, probably our drumming friend, and a singing Reed Bunting opposite the hide.
On Kingsmead still some standing water and plenty of Corvids rooting about, along with the usual Canada Geese, Pheasants and Moorhens.
I checked out the nest box where the GW has been doing his thing and while there a Water Rail flew from the spit across towards the reed beds in front of Kramer hide. The nest box is still intact with it's black ring around the hole. One of the boxes along the new woodland walk has a similar black ring.
A Chiffchaff was singing strongly up by the Sedgewick seat and came to within 3m. Another Chiffy was singing along by the Rough and also came quite close before moving off along the path in front of me.
At the spit a third Chiffy singing in the fenced off section at the end. On west Fingers a single Little Grebe and a couple Canadas. On east Fingers 3 Little Grebe, pair of Mute Swans, the "gang of six" Canada Geese and a single male Tufted Duck. Also up to a dozen Sand Martins zipping about over east and west Fingers.
Heading back to the car had a possible female Blackcap in the hedges behind the VC but without bins cannot be certain.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Spring? Nah!
Although DK had 27 Smarties on Sunday, and 5 Chiffs, a Water Rail & a Shelduck, it didn't feel too grand today (Tues).
Wus greeted by Blackbirds all over the "lawns" and 4 Redwing looking for worms in the wet turf. Further along, a Chiff in full sail and a couple of 'Mavis's' just listening for worms or snails. Filled up the empty feeders (nice and sheltered here) whilst the Chiff let me know he was about. Lovely bird - milky underparts and a nice olive on top. Chanced the mud (I got 21mm of rain in my guage) to view the Canada Geese wars. A kingfisher called from the reedy bit of Fingers and on the other side of the path 'busy' Great Tits, Blackbirds and Goldfinches. Down at the "crescent", a female Reed Bunt, a male Gt. Spot looking for some grub in the base of the willows, a Gt Tit enjoying the nectar from the willow catkins and a splendid male Chaffinch pronouncing its claim to the area. Over 'big fingers', 7 Smarties, my first for the year.
The Leat was well up (slalom gate open) and the Navigation was surcharging the pipe and filling Fingers. We've just seen Fingers "settled" and now it's filling up again! No Herons; just the usual Moorhens trying to sort out where to build a nest. I did hear a 'whickering' Dabchick. The Green Woodpecker was doing a surreptitious [big word just for John] tune on the box - or it is just getting pissed off with getting nowhere. Round the corner, more Chiffs, Robins bursting with song - until the Long-tailed Tit trilled a warning. Over went the female Sparr, the silence ceased and the Robins carried on, back from the beginning of the page. One thing I did notice, and that was the unusual number of Pied Wags around today, maybe half a dozen.
Wus greeted by Blackbirds all over the "lawns" and 4 Redwing looking for worms in the wet turf. Further along, a Chiff in full sail and a couple of 'Mavis's' just listening for worms or snails. Filled up the empty feeders (nice and sheltered here) whilst the Chiff let me know he was about. Lovely bird - milky underparts and a nice olive on top. Chanced the mud (I got 21mm of rain in my guage) to view the Canada Geese wars. A kingfisher called from the reedy bit of Fingers and on the other side of the path 'busy' Great Tits, Blackbirds and Goldfinches. Down at the "crescent", a female Reed Bunt, a male Gt. Spot looking for some grub in the base of the willows, a Gt Tit enjoying the nectar from the willow catkins and a splendid male Chaffinch pronouncing its claim to the area. Over 'big fingers', 7 Smarties, my first for the year.
The Leat was well up (slalom gate open) and the Navigation was surcharging the pipe and filling Fingers. We've just seen Fingers "settled" and now it's filling up again! No Herons; just the usual Moorhens trying to sort out where to build a nest. I did hear a 'whickering' Dabchick. The Green Woodpecker was doing a surreptitious [big word just for John] tune on the box - or it is just getting pissed off with getting nowhere. Round the corner, more Chiffs, Robins bursting with song - until the Long-tailed Tit trilled a warning. Over went the female Sparr, the silence ceased and the Robins carried on, back from the beginning of the page. One thing I did notice, and that was the unusual number of Pied Wags around today, maybe half a dozen.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Saturday 15th March
Another quiet morning although a surprising variety of duck for this late in the winter. A pair of Teal were flushed along by the Sedgewick seat as headed to Kramer hide. Two Heron followed them. SP was already at the hide but hadn't had much of note. He did report a Chiffchaff singing from over towards the Long Hedge, probably the regular bird. The usual 3 Little Grebe were about but no activity around the possible nest this morning. A male Shoveler was seen through the gap on west Fingers. Both Sparrowhawks were seen with the female making several appearances. The female Mute Swan (#500) was feeding near the hide. Canada Geese, Mallards and Moorhen were also about. SP reported fresh Otter spraint in the pipe so they are still about but we haven't seen them for at least 3 weeks now.
On Kingsmead a Fox was keeping an eye on things until a Crow gave him ear ache! Several Pheasants, 16 Canada Geese and 6 Moorhen were also present.
I had a walk around Fingers and the main lake. As I went up past the Sedgewick seat again, a pair of Gadwall and a pair of Teal were seen tucked in round the back. A Chiffchaff was singing strongly along the path between the Dead Seat and the steps. It moved along in front of me, as I walked along the path, before moving off into the Rough. It was very flighty and was heard singing strongly again when I was on the spit, sounded like it was back where I first saw it. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was seen/heard drumming in the dead tree by the Dead Seat. No sign of the Coots on Fingers again but the Great Crested Grebes were still about on west Fingers. Two splendid male Tufted Ducks were on east Fingers. The male Mute Swan was also about.
Nothing around the Crescent although as I came out onto the main path 2 Shelduck flew over north east. 2 red headed Goosander flew in to the main lake at the beach end. No other ducks, other than Mallards, seen on the main lake. A few Great Crested Grebe, 6 Cormorant and 5 Mute Swan were on the lake.
I stopped to look out over Fenlake and was rewarded by 5 displaying Lapwing and a Kingfisher flying along the river upstream. As I continued around the main lake another Kingfisher was seen flying from the south west corner, heading east in front of the south side fishing swims.
Although little else of note it was great just listening to all the bird song from the regulars which are really getting into gear now.
A couple of the less popular park residents:
On Kingsmead a Fox was keeping an eye on things until a Crow gave him ear ache! Several Pheasants, 16 Canada Geese and 6 Moorhen were also present.
I had a walk around Fingers and the main lake. As I went up past the Sedgewick seat again, a pair of Gadwall and a pair of Teal were seen tucked in round the back. A Chiffchaff was singing strongly along the path between the Dead Seat and the steps. It moved along in front of me, as I walked along the path, before moving off into the Rough. It was very flighty and was heard singing strongly again when I was on the spit, sounded like it was back where I first saw it. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was seen/heard drumming in the dead tree by the Dead Seat. No sign of the Coots on Fingers again but the Great Crested Grebes were still about on west Fingers. Two splendid male Tufted Ducks were on east Fingers. The male Mute Swan was also about.
Nothing around the Crescent although as I came out onto the main path 2 Shelduck flew over north east. 2 red headed Goosander flew in to the main lake at the beach end. No other ducks, other than Mallards, seen on the main lake. A few Great Crested Grebe, 6 Cormorant and 5 Mute Swan were on the lake.
I stopped to look out over Fenlake and was rewarded by 5 displaying Lapwing and a Kingfisher flying along the river upstream. As I continued around the main lake another Kingfisher was seen flying from the south west corner, heading east in front of the south side fishing swims.
Although little else of note it was great just listening to all the bird song from the regulars which are really getting into gear now.
A couple of the less popular park residents:
Cormorant
Canada Goose
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