I was also told of a Little Owl nearby and went to view, it was present, and showing well. The haze in the photograph is actually a high stone wall that was between me and the Owl - so out of focus!
Saturday, 5 January 2019
5th Jan - cloudy dull, very light wersterly, 6C
Bradgate Park/Cropston reservoir; I visited here today particularly to search through the Lesser Redpoll flock which has had 1-2 Common (Mealy) Redpoll in. I and some others did see one bird that looked very good for a Common Redpoll, distinctly showing the plumage and size expected. The flock was 'f'lighty' as many people walked along the path with accompanying noise making it difficult to get a photograph.
I was also told of a Little Owl nearby and went to view, it was present, and showing well. The haze in the photograph is actually a high stone wall that was between me and the Owl - so out of focus!
There was nothing much on the reservoir, only a small flock of Lapwing at the inlet.
I was also told of a Little Owl nearby and went to view, it was present, and showing well. The haze in the photograph is actually a high stone wall that was between me and the Owl - so out of focus!
Thursday, 3 January 2019
3rd Jan - High cloud, very light northerly, 4C
Willey; a Green Woodpecker was in the wood to the east and a Mistle Thrush was attending to the berries on the Holly tree in the church garden.
Loughborough; in the afternoon I visited the Park road area hoping to see reported Waxwing. I didn’t see any but was surprised by other birds in the area which included a good number of Starling, Goldfinch and Collared Doves, and a few House Sparrows. A Little Egret flew over SE.
Loughborough; in the afternoon I visited the Park road area hoping to see reported Waxwing. I didn’t see any but was surprised by other birds in the area which included a good number of Starling, Goldfinch and Collared Doves, and a few House Sparrows. A Little Egret flew over SE.
2nd Jan - cloudy, 5C, very light NW
Willey; I checked out my feed station this morning, a good variety in small numbers though. Five Tree Sparrows were present, plus Nuthatch, Coal Tit, Yellowhammer, Chaffinch to name a few.
Cotesbach Landfill; a look here during the afternoon hoping to catch up with more ‘white-wingers’. Thousands of Gulls but no ‘white-wingers’were found. A couple of Red Kite were present.
Cotesbach Landfill; a look here during the afternoon hoping to catch up with more ‘white-wingers’. Thousands of Gulls but no ‘white-wingers’were found. A couple of Red Kite were present.
Tuesday, 1 January 2019
1st Jan 2019 - cloudy/drizzle alittle am, broken cloud pm, light NW, 9C
Happy New Year
Cotesbach Landfill; a look here this morning, Carl was already there and had seen both the 2W and adult Glaucous Gulls, however nearby shooting had flushed most of the Gulls away. After a little searching I re-found the 2W Glaucous and was able to view it well and get record photos.
Carl also spotted a Green Sandpiper, which is always a good winter record. Several Shoveler and Teal were also present.
Shawell Lagoons; I checked here as the Gulls sometimes re-group here when disturbed, although there was a good number of Gulls no further 'white-wingers'. There was a large number of Lapwing present, I counted 560.
Pitsford reservoir; I decided to have a walk here as its quite a big reserve area and provides lots of habitat, plus a pleasant area for a walk. Some scarce birds have been around so maybe I would see one if still present. At the feed station area there was Chaffinch, Yellowhammer, Tree Sparrows and Reed Bunting, plus Blue and great Tits. A Few Redwing and Fieldfare were on the nearby pasture.
I had heard the Ring-necked Duck had been seen from a local birder so I decided to scan the area towards Walsgrave Bay. There was a good number of Ducks present and being such a large area scanning the area takes a while. After about 20 mins I found the Ring-necked Duck with a group of Tufted Duck and had good views., Also, in the area 3 Great White Egrets.
I had also heard there was a Great northern Diver on the main water, so I headed off along the east side, the sun had broken through and all looked splendid. I did find the Diver near Pintail Bay, it was heading towards the narrows. It was busy fishing so was under the water more than above, I did managed some quick record photos.
Cotesbach Landfill; a look here this morning, Carl was already there and had seen both the 2W and adult Glaucous Gulls, however nearby shooting had flushed most of the Gulls away. After a little searching I re-found the 2W Glaucous and was able to view it well and get record photos.
Shawell Lagoons; I checked here as the Gulls sometimes re-group here when disturbed, although there was a good number of Gulls no further 'white-wingers'. There was a large number of Lapwing present, I counted 560.
Pitsford reservoir; I decided to have a walk here as its quite a big reserve area and provides lots of habitat, plus a pleasant area for a walk. Some scarce birds have been around so maybe I would see one if still present. At the feed station area there was Chaffinch, Yellowhammer, Tree Sparrows and Reed Bunting, plus Blue and great Tits. A Few Redwing and Fieldfare were on the nearby pasture.
I had heard the Ring-necked Duck had been seen from a local birder so I decided to scan the area towards Walsgrave Bay. There was a good number of Ducks present and being such a large area scanning the area takes a while. After about 20 mins I found the Ring-necked Duck with a group of Tufted Duck and had good views., Also, in the area 3 Great White Egrets.
I had also heard there was a Great northern Diver on the main water, so I headed off along the east side, the sun had broken through and all looked splendid. I did find the Diver near Pintail Bay, it was heading towards the narrows. It was busy fishing so was under the water more than above, I did managed some quick record photos.
Monday, 31 December 2018
31st Dec - mostly cloudy, light SW, 9C
Well we end the year still on a mild note, little sun and low rainfall - what will the new year bring?
Cotesbach Landfill; mid morning I decided to have a look here (then maybe the lagoons - but I didn't make there), there were thousands of Gulls all over the sandpit and landfill area, mostly sitting around, quite tightly bunched so careful searching was needed. After about half an hour I search I spotted a Iceland Gull - second winter probably. I had to look twice as I was expecting to see the 2W Glaucous, so this Iceland Gull is definitely new to the area. Although fairly distant it showed well through the scope and I managed record photos before it flew off back to the landfill area out of sight.
Stanford reservoir; after lunch a visit here to fill the feeders and a look. Fairly quiet due to the weather we've had/got but still a Great Egret and 2 Little Egrets were good to see, 2 drake Red-crested Pochard in the bay and 27 Shoveler, 6 Teal and 20+ Goldeneye. Along the by-pass path a couple of Long-tailed Tit flocks (c20), single Fieldfare and a Treecreeper.
Cotesbach Landfill; mid morning I decided to have a look here (then maybe the lagoons - but I didn't make there), there were thousands of Gulls all over the sandpit and landfill area, mostly sitting around, quite tightly bunched so careful searching was needed. After about half an hour I search I spotted a Iceland Gull - second winter probably. I had to look twice as I was expecting to see the 2W Glaucous, so this Iceland Gull is definitely new to the area. Although fairly distant it showed well through the scope and I managed record photos before it flew off back to the landfill area out of sight.
Stanford reservoir; after lunch a visit here to fill the feeders and a look. Fairly quiet due to the weather we've had/got but still a Great Egret and 2 Little Egrets were good to see, 2 drake Red-crested Pochard in the bay and 27 Shoveler, 6 Teal and 20+ Goldeneye. Along the by-pass path a couple of Long-tailed Tit flocks (c20), single Fieldfare and a Treecreeper.
Sunday, 30 December 2018
30th Dec - mostly cloudy, very light WSW, 11C
Today I completed my first winter bird survey which is being organised by the BTO/Natural England. Essentially you have to count and record all birds seen when walking a defined 2Km transect. My allocated transect is near to Bitteswell which is a area of mixed farmland and some of the village area.
Of course such surveys don't usually produce the scarce and rare birds, but you do get to know the area well, which can, sometimes, turn-up surprises - although not today. A Raven was nice to see, a good number of Redwings feeding on pasture, with a few Fieldfare and Starlings. About 10 Goldfinch were feeding too. on one small area of old pasture there was quite a few Gulls, maybe 150, included Black-headed, Common, Herring Great-black backed. Quite a few Magpies, and lots of Jackdaw. A couple of Buzzards were on the ground feeding, probably looking for worms.
Of course such surveys don't usually produce the scarce and rare birds, but you do get to know the area well, which can, sometimes, turn-up surprises - although not today. A Raven was nice to see, a good number of Redwings feeding on pasture, with a few Fieldfare and Starlings. About 10 Goldfinch were feeding too. on one small area of old pasture there was quite a few Gulls, maybe 150, included Black-headed, Common, Herring Great-black backed. Quite a few Magpies, and lots of Jackdaw. A couple of Buzzards were on the ground feeding, probably looking for worms.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)