Willey; I did a count for the RSPB big garden birdwatch this morning around my feed station. I spotted 20 species. The single Tree Sparrow showed, four Greenfinch and Chaffinch,
Cotesbach Landfill; Seven Red Kites around this morning, plus nine Ravens - territorial behaviour seen. A Green Sandpiper was feeding and a single drake Shelduck was on the water. Few Gulls around today.
A few more signs of Spring getting closer
Willey: The other day a House Sparrow was sitting on the gutter with a beak full of nesting material from the garden.
Willey; checked the feed station expecting more birds, in fact there seemed less despite the snow covered ground. A single Skylark was heard overhead moving SE.
Starling roost; a check this evening, about 20000 came to roost, a little later now the daylength is a little longer. A Sparrowhawk moved through the area and two Green Woodpeckers were seen too.
Willey; a check at the feed station this morning, mostly all the regulars, four hen Pheasants still coming for the dropped food. Also, a folk of Long-tailed tits were visiting.
Cotesbach landfill; a look here after lunch, with poor weather and no tipping little was found. Usual Teal, Shoveler and Tufted Ducks. Only c300 Gulls were visible plus a few flying around, notable was the 'white' GBB Gull, which stands out from the rest, first seen on the 15th.
Another busy day, so no obs. Soon there will be some added.
Magna Park south; looking over the development area as I went along the road I could see c200 Lapwings, no Golden Plover though.
Stanford reservoir; a look here during the afternoon, however the water is very discoloured from the recent rainfall, so not so favoured it seems. Pochard, Mallard, Tufted and Wigeon. At the feeders, were Tree Sparrows, Blue and Great Tits. Seven Magpies were on the adjacent field and a single Lapwing.
c35 Fieldfares and 10 Redwings were in the orchards area. A Party of Long-tailed Tits, other Tits and Goldcrest were near the dam.
A male Kestrel flew on the the top of the tall thorn hedge.
WIlley;
About 1030h, three Ravens flew low over the fields to the west, chasing each other and noisy, presumably some territory/pairing behaviour.
After lunch around the feed station and hedges nine Greenfinch were busy eating, 15 Goldfinch flew over towards a neighbours garden feeder (they seem to prefer that location/food!). A single Nuthatch and the usual Coal Tit popped in for a bite. A Song Thrush gave a few bits of song, Fieldfare and Redwings were hanging around the hedges/trees.
Willey; a check of the feed station this morning produced all the recent regulars as yesterday. A couple of Jays flew over from the old disused railway line area. A few more Redwings and Fieldfares on the Sheep pasture behind the church, plus c40 Starlings.
Unfortunately, no more sightings of Tree Sparrow at the feeders, nor Yellowhammers, which have usually come.
Cotesbach Landfill; a look here after lunch, not good conditions though.
Most gulls were distant and on the tipping area, no white-wingers found. Ducks included c60 Teal, 10 Shoveler, a Wigeon (f), 15 Tufted Ducks, a Shelduck, Mallard pair. and two Mute Swan.
A couple of Red Kite, a Raven, seven Stock Doves came to roost in the spinney.
Willey;
Not cold, but miserable and damp weather didn't help finding anything locally.
Checked the feed station about 1300h. Four hen Pheasants were checking for fallen food. Five Greenfinches flew in, a few Chaffinches still. A male and female Great Spotted Woodpecker - these are daily visitors now. A couple of Dunnocks were sitting in the top of the tall hedge, about 25 feet up, you don't often see them too high. Another was behind the feed station.
c70 Rooks flew over to the north fields. On the near pasture fields c15 Fieldfares and a few Redwings were feeding.
Willey; so far during January Great Tits have sang a little and Great Spotted Woodpeckers have been drumming in short bursts.
Today, on the feed statin c15 House Sparrows, 7+ Blue Tits, 4+ Great Tits, a Coal Tit and 3+ Chaffinches. A hen Pheasant walked by
Six Fieldfares flew over, a single Redwing in the Ash tree nearby.
Willey; Several small flocks of Starlings are dispersing from their roost several miles away, flying northward between 0845 and 0915h. Then from about 1530h returning flocks are seen.
Not much time for obs today.
Willey; c 40 Fieldfare feeding on pasture to the east first thing.
Bittesby; a walk across the old Bittesby farm estate (now nearing 'development'), east of the old railway line. One the lake were 4 Little Grebe, eight Coot and a pair of Mute Swans, the lake was half frozen. A Reed Bunting flew over, a Jay in the small spinney and a Kestrel in the boundary Ash tree.
Around the fields and hedgerows were Redwings and Fieldfares, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, seven Goldfinch and a single Linnet feeding on weeds. A Sparrowhawk flew low across the fields, whist a Buzzard was flying around calling. A male and female Stonechat was found on an old fence area with brambles.
A single Meadow Pipit flew up, eight Stock Doves were flying around looking to land in bushes.
Pretty poor visibility all day, less than 200 m making it near impossible to see anything, even that at the feed station. Even bird numbers at the feed station seemed very low, they must have been elsewhere. Single Greenfinch and Great Spotted Woodpecker, plus other regular species.
I forgot to mention that a Covid lockdown is in place again, so travel to most place is prohibited, so more attention to local birds for a while.
Willey; a check of the feed station. A couple of Greenfinch, Chaffinches, House Sparrows and the single Tree Sparrow again. Male and female Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Collard Doves and Woodpigeon. A Coal Tit and Nuthatch kept popping in for a snack. A few Starling have also made a few visits lately.
It was good to see two Song Thrush feeding on the paddock.
I digiscoped a few birds in the murky conditions.
Our coldest day of the winter yet, fortunately no snow or significant wind. Ground and waters pretty well frozen.
Willey; Nothing new at the feed station, although some Long-tailed Tits were in the Horse Chestnut, heading towards the hedgerow nearby. Blackbirds were numerous, but only single Redwing and Fieldfare seen. However, low visibility didn't help.
Cotesbach landfill; a quick look here because the visibility meant I could hardly see to the pools, these were frozen, but clearly covered with hundreds of Gulls, if only I could have seen them!
Willey; this morning two Raven were exploring the sheep field behind the Church.
I checked the feed station after lunch. A Coal Tit, Nuthatch and hen Pheasant were feeding. It was good to see five Greenfinches on the feeders. Blue and Great Tits were quite numerous today, over 10 of each, several Chaffinch again.
Cotesbach Landfill; after lunch. plenty of Gulls again, including 1st winter Yellow-legged Gull, the majority were at the tipping area not easily seen.
C60 Teal and c15 Shoveler. C100 Lapwings we’re flying around. Five Red Kites were present.
Willey; a check of my feed station this morning. More Chaffinches - at least 8, c25 House Sparrows, and still only one Tree Sparrow, otherwise the usual residents visited to feed.
Draycote Reservoir; A Great Northern Diver was some distance off shore and a Shag with Cormorants was sitting on a pontoon. c35 Goosanders were around, plus Gadwall, Mallard, Wigeon and Tufted Duck. Always a good number of Great-crested and Little Grebes. A single Grey Wagtail and several Pied along the shore.
Stanford Reservoir; a brief view of the two Bearded Tits in flight, proving very elusive at the moment to see well. A female Reed Bunting and Wrens in the Reed bed kept moving the reeds too. A Kingfisher dashed by several times and a Water Rail called. A Coal Tit on the Leics feeder, a Bullfinch nearby too.
Cotesbach Landfill; after lunch a look here, Gulls were mostly distant. However, 66 Teal was a good count. A Raven or two was regularly heard and seen.
A surprised sighting of six Whooper Swans that flew over, low, WNW. I heard them behind me first then they flew passed, on a straight heading until out of sight. Interestingly, the six which have been at Hollowell Reservoir (Northants), we’re see no to fly off northward at 1335h. So, these birds were likely the ones I saw here.
Magna Park, c60 Lapwing and nine Golden Plover on the levelled development site late afternoon.
Happy New Year
Willey; it was good to see two Song Thrush today. A Green Woodpecker near the BH wood. Low numbers of Fieldfares, c50 Redwings around. Two Great Spotted Woodpeckers on feeders. also three Robins, c15 House Sparrows, four Chaffinch and two Greenfinch.
Shawell lagoons; a Treecreeper was feeding in the bordering hedgerow. Small numbers of Wigeon, Tufted Duck and Teal were present.
Cotesbach landfill; the cloud and mist were not good here and little activity. 10 Shoveler and 28 Teal were resting on the partly frozen water. Six Long-tailed Tits were in the border hedgerow.
Stanford Hall Park; a look here on the way to Stanford reservoir after lunch. Many Greylag and Canada Geese, the single Barnacle was with them, feeding on the Parkland grass. A Great Egret was at the lake.
