A morning ringing session produced over 40 birds but only 19 new.
Gt. Spot 2, Wren 1, Dunnock 2, Robin 1, Goldcrest 1, Blue Tit 11, Gt. Tit 15, Greenfinch 9, Goldfinch 1, Bullfinch1. Finches were "wary" in the bright sunshine.
Sightings - male Sparr (08:15), Greenshank over (08:25) calling, 14 Blackbird >>SW + 2 locals, 9 Fieldfare, 1 Redwing, "loads" of Siskin (back & forth and in tree-tops - could have been >12), 2 Chiff in hedge (emphatic 'hweep' call) , 2 Lesserpolls >>.
Also Gadwall, Tachybapt, 5 Herons left Fingers (lilypads), Fox.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Sunday, November 09, 2008
This Weekend
A very disappointing morning on Saturday, the weather was grim and the birds were in hiding, not that I blame them. Highlights were a bit of a Thrush passage with a flock of 40 and another of 20, Redwing and Fieldfare, heading south. John also saw a couple of flocks and I heard Fieldfare calling while I was in Kramer hide but couldn't see them. We also had a Water Rail at Kramer, moving through the reed beds in front of the hide. The only ducks we had apart from Mallard were some Teal which we heard calling while we were in Kramer Hide. There were three Coot on the main lake by the hide. A Sparrowhawk was seen over the Car Park and then again as it drifted over Kramer hide.
Sunday was much better with the first Pochard of Winter arriving on the main lake (4m2f) along with 3 male Tufteds and a single red head Goldeneye. Great Crested Grebe numbered 22 and Cormorant numbered 33. A Water Rail was seen by the main path as it flew to the cover of the reed bed.
At Kramer hide 4 Teal put in an appearance and 3 Shoveller did a fly past. A Fox appeared in the right hand reed bed and was seen later in the Sheep Pen with another.
A Little Grebe was on West Fingers which, again, was virtually deserted, excepting the Mallard and the Mute Swans. The Swans embarked on another training flight to the main lake and were last seen up near the sailing club
Kingfisher were evident on both days, with particularly good views at Kramer hide on Saturday.
Sunday was much better with the first Pochard of Winter arriving on the main lake (4m2f) along with 3 male Tufteds and a single red head Goldeneye. Great Crested Grebe numbered 22 and Cormorant numbered 33. A Water Rail was seen by the main path as it flew to the cover of the reed bed.
At Kramer hide 4 Teal put in an appearance and 3 Shoveller did a fly past. A Fox appeared in the right hand reed bed and was seen later in the Sheep Pen with another.
A Little Grebe was on West Fingers which, again, was virtually deserted, excepting the Mallard and the Mute Swans. The Swans embarked on another training flight to the main lake and were last seen up near the sailing club
Kingfisher were evident on both days, with particularly good views at Kramer hide on Saturday.
Saturday, November 01, 2008
Saturday 1st November
A bright cold start quickly deteriorated to drizzle then rain. Cormorants were already arriving in numbers when I arrived and Great Crested Grebes now number 20+. A Goldeneye was also on the main lake.
At Kramer hide it was fairly quiet with mainly Moorhens providing the entertainment. Some Teal calls from East or West Fingers betrayed their presence and later 3 Teal (1m2f) showed up on Kramer. Later in the morning we counted at least 6 Teal with several males in various phases of eclipse plumage.
Having left the hide I headed back towards the Beach and met up with John. There were a large number of Cormorant feeding close in at the Beach which were flushed by a dog giving a reasonable chance at counting them. We both came to counts in the mid 60's with John on 63 and me on 65. Pity the poor fish in the lake if there are any left!
Back on Fingers no Gadwall and just a pair of Shoveler but at least 3 Little Grebe on East Fingers. The Mute Swans were doing their flying training again on East Fingers and had made it onto the main lake later in the morning.
A couple of Grey Wagtails were on the Canoe Slalom. Kingfisher were prominent again this week with several sightings throughout the morning. Several small groups of Redwing and Fieldfare moved through during the morning with the largest flock being 22 Fieldfare.
At Kramer hide it was fairly quiet with mainly Moorhens providing the entertainment. Some Teal calls from East or West Fingers betrayed their presence and later 3 Teal (1m2f) showed up on Kramer. Later in the morning we counted at least 6 Teal with several males in various phases of eclipse plumage.
Having left the hide I headed back towards the Beach and met up with John. There were a large number of Cormorant feeding close in at the Beach which were flushed by a dog giving a reasonable chance at counting them. We both came to counts in the mid 60's with John on 63 and me on 65. Pity the poor fish in the lake if there are any left!
Back on Fingers no Gadwall and just a pair of Shoveler but at least 3 Little Grebe on East Fingers. The Mute Swans were doing their flying training again on East Fingers and had made it onto the main lake later in the morning.
A couple of Grey Wagtails were on the Canoe Slalom. Kingfisher were prominent again this week with several sightings throughout the morning. Several small groups of Redwing and Fieldfare moved through during the morning with the largest flock being 22 Fieldfare.
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