Tuesday 31 January 2012

Jan 30th and 31st

Two pretty grey days really but there is still a chance something could turn up! The walk yesterday was really very quiet, although I was only out for an hour, the highlights were MARSH TIT, TREECREEPER and several BULLFINCHES.
Dunnock




Another Treecreeper



Today was similar but walking through the Hop Field, a rarity in itself these days, there were good numbers of LINNET (30), MEADOW PIPIT (12), REDPOLL (6-8), GREENFINCHES, CHAFFINCHES and GOLDFINCHES, a really nice start to the walk. The orchard was full of FIELDFARES and REDWINGS. I met Dad in the new orchard, the first good bird we had was a LITTLE OWL sitting out in the open but too far away for the camera. There were 30 BLACK HEADED GULLS and 5 COMMON GULLS over the fields, the area that held the Fieldfares last week was empty, 2 HERRING GULLS flew north west and again the YELLOWHAMMERS were still about with at least 10 REED BUNTINGS, as we left the bunting flock a COMMON BUZZARD flew in front of us and 6 SKYLARK came out of the grass. The last bit of action was a single LAPWING (69) flying high east. As we left one of the gardeners showed us an early bloom, Broad Bean!!
Early variety of Broad Bean!

17 comments:

Unknown said...

Alan, gracias a tí estoy conociendo aves que desconocía.
Saludos!!

Tammy said...

Beautiful capture of the Broad Bean! The colors are lovely!

Greenie said...

Alan ,
The flower on the Broad Bean heralds what is to come . Once we get this month out of the way , it's all systems go .
69 for the month is great going .
Only 44 more to equal the whole of last year .

- Yvonaut -
Das sind Raphael und Yvonne
said...

Nice shots Alan!
The weather here is not better, the sky shows only different types of grey..
Many greetings and have a nice rest of the week!
Yvonne & Raphael

Alan Pavey said...

Gracias Ramon, espero poder mostrar mas aves diferentes durante todo el ano :-) Saludos!!

Hi Tammy, thanks, I was surprised the flower was so colourful, I hadn't given Broad Beans much thought before!! :-)

Hi Greenie, it was a nicer flower than I expected certainly a good colour at least, I'm pleased with 69 species, that is a strange stat that I've already seen most of the birds I'm going to see already!! :-)

Alan Pavey said...

Hi Yvonne and Raphael, thank you, it's sunny today but unfortunately I'm not if I'll get for a walk, always the way :-) regards Alan

Les fous du cap said...

Thank you for the comment and your visit to our blog "Les Fous du Cap". Your photos are very nice.
Céline & Philippe

Warren Baker said...

Your comment to greenie about already seeing most of the species you are going to see, also goes through my mind at times Alan. I'm only likey to see 100 -110 species at best and Ive seen 62 of those already :-)

Nice Dunnock by the way :-)

Magia da Inês said...

¸.•°`♥✿⊱╮
Olá, amigo!
Lindas fotografias.
Bom dia!
Beijinhos.
Brasil
¸.•°`♥✿⊱╮

Ingemar Pettersson said...

Hi!
Lovely photo, i realy like the first one moste.
Greetings from Sweden
/Ingemar

Rachel J said...

It is too cold today for birding!!!

ShySongbird said...

Lovely photos again Alan, who would have thought a Broad Bean flower could look so beautiful. Let's hope the predicted bad weather this weekend doesn't spoil the early bloomers... Talking of which I think we may all need some warm and wooly ones this weekend!! ;-)

Monica said...

davvero bellissime queste foto!! Complimenti!!

Jerry said...

That's one fabulous looking broad bean!!

Alan Pavey said...

Hi Celine and Philippe, thank you, your Pipit photos were great!

Hi Warren, thanks, it is a strange scenario really but still enjoyable!!

Ola Ines, thank you, I'm glad you like the photos :-)

Hi Ingemar, thank you, have a great weekend :-)

Hi Rach, Lots of layers!!! that's the answer :-)

Hi ShySongbird, I was surprised at the Broad Bean flower, I think the cold weather will take it's toll unfortunately but woolly bloomers could be a solution :-)

Hi Monica, thank you and thank you for visiting my blog :-)

Hi Jerry, Thanks, I'm glad we bumped into the gardener who showed us this little bloom :-)

Unknown said...

You collected some real treats there!
I love that Dunnock photo!

Alan Pavey said...

Hi Nicole, thank you, all the best :-)