Sunday 4 December 2011

December 4th

Two days in a row, wow! I was joined by Mike this morning. Starting at 7am, a few thrushes were leaving their roosts and 3 GOLDCRESTS were by the barn. We headed towards the lake and picked up 9 GREYLAGS heading high north and 2 GREEN WOODPECKERS that flew up from a field and posed on a fence unfortunately too far away for a picture.By the lake there were REDPOLLS and SISKIN flying around and a GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER called several times a BULLFINCH or two also called, while 2 MEADOW PIPITS flew over. Around the small pond in the wood a flock of tits included 2 MARSH TITS, the first of 5 seen today, not for the first time the flock seemed agitated, a PEREGRINE drifted over which their latest concern! A BRAMBLING then called as it flew over and a TREECREEPER and NUTHATCH joined the flock. We continued out in to the field coming across another tit flock on the way which contained at least one COAL TIT, also a SPARROWHAWK that flew lazily across the top of the wood. We were doing well for species and one of the first birds we saw as we left the wood was a BUZZARD. More SISKINS were seen, a flock of 13 in the Alders. Other birds added in the fields included REED BUNTING, YELLOWHAMMER, the second GREY HERON of the day, LINNET, JACKDAW, JAY and HERRING GULL. A quick look across the valley produced 4 CORMORANTS and another SPARROWHAWK. We ended the morning at 11am, neither of us managing any pictures in the poor light. I left Mike in the car park, hopefully something posed for him after I left. I got home and totalled up our efforts, 50 species was more than I had first thought. It was a really nice morning with good conversation and a nice selection of local birds. 

7 comments:

Mike H said...

Thanks again Alan for a really great morning and pleasant company. A shame that the conditions made it difficult for photos but a good mix of birds and pleased we made the half century!

Mike

Alan Pavey said...

Hi Mike, a really enjoyable morning, looking forward to another one in the New Year!

Ken. said...

Hi Alan.
What a great mornings birding with some cracking birds seen, and a good total too.

Warren Baker said...

50 species, that must have been just about everything that could be seen Alan, very quiet here still....

Alan Pavey said...

Hi Ken, it was a great morning and everything seemed to fall into place, Peregrine being the highlight as it was the first of the winter!

Hi Warren, we didn't pick up Little Egret and Stephen had a Woodcock but that would have been too lucky or greedy!!

Salva Recio Urbano said...

Hola amigo, tienes un blog fantastico, unas fotos geniales, te felicito y ya tienes otro seguidor más. Un saludo.

Alan Pavey said...

Hi Salsvador, thank you for taking the time to look at and follow my blog :-) Saludos