Saturday 11 February 2012

10th and 11th Feb

Two walks yesterday, mainly due to cutting the first one short because I forgot to get something out for dinner!!!Still the numbers of FIELDFARE and REDWING in the orchard were good and about 15 REDPOLLS were also milling around.


Walking the woods, a COMMON BUZZARD drifted through the canopy and a GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER drummed, there were also good numbers of SONG THRUSHES in any exposed leaf litter. A single SISKIN flew over calling and once again MARSH TIT, NUTHATCH, TREECREEPER and all those flock birds were around in good numbers. During the second walk I managed to add LITTLE EGRET to the day list and KESTREL, as well as 11 LAPWINGS in the fields with sheep.



Today I headed to Paddock Wood after Marcus Lawson found a Hooded Merganser yesterday afternoon, it was bitterly cold and I met Marcus and 3 of the Saganauts, unfortunately the bird had disappeared but there was a really good selection of wildfowl in evidence, there were lots of TEAL, GADWALL, SHOVELER, POCHARD and TUFTED DUCK as well as a smart drake SMEW, 2 RED CRESTED POCHARD, a GOLDENEYE, 30+ BARNACLE GEESE plus several fly-by GOOSANDER!! A really interesting morning, I also saw a KINGFISHER as I headed back to the car.
Excellent selection of ducks on this tiny patch of ice free lake

25 comments:

John said...

Hi Alan,
Very nice photo of the Redwing, a bird I haven`t seen may of lately?!
Good to see the Red-crested Pochard too, a nice looking bird. This cold weather is due to turn soon so maybe the birds will disperse?
J
Follow me at HEDGELAND TALES

Warren Baker said...

Ive also noticed lots of Songthrushes on my patch Alan, must be an influx from the continent.

I'm too envious to comment on Marcus' patch!!!!!!!!!!

Phil said...

Bad luck missing the Merganser Alan. More super photos today and like yourself and Warren i've noticed a lot more Song Thrushes. Struggling to find Redwing or Fieldfare at NH now.

Tammy said...

Sound like two lovely walks! I love the wintery feel of the first photo, excellent! Great variety of beautiful birds!

Marc Heath said...

There is something exciting about scoping through a tiny patch of ice free water ice knowing that any second you may come across that patch bird of a lifetime, nice shots.

Ploddingbirder said...

Superb Redwing shot Alan.

Marianne said...

Great stuff. That last pic would be perfect for one of those 'how many species are in this photo?' competition - I count 9... Love the other photos too, especially the Redwings.

Mike H said...

Some more quality photos today Alan both on and off patch.

Brian King said...

Gorgeous shots, Alan! I really like that third photo...is that a robin?

strandskatan said...

Very nice :)

Greenie said...

Alan ,
Shame the Merganser had gone , would have been a great sighting .
Your shots really show the temperature . Great Redwing ones .

Millhouse Photography said...

Redwings are beautiful aren't they mate.

Magia da Inês said...

Belas fotos, a segunda é um show.
Boa semana!
Beijinhos.
Brasil

(⁀‵⁀,)
¸`⋎´
¸.•°`♥

ShySongbird said...

Great pics again Alan. Love the first photo of the Redwing in particular and also the Robin. I have seen a lot more Fieldfares than Redwings this year.

Alan Pavey said...

Hi John, thanks, I was surprised at the number of ducks congregating but I suppose with so little water free of ice, they didn't have much choice :-)

Hi Warren, I thought I might find you at Whetsted, it is a good patch :-)

Hi Phil, thanks, shame the Fieldfare and Redwing are thin on the ground at NH, I enjoy seeing them here, their numbers have been variable though.

Hi Tammy, thank you, they were enjoyable walks despite it being -10 on Saturday morning!!!

Hi Marc, I know exactly what you mean, I kept scoping that patch of water waiting for soething else to arrive.

Hi Martin, thank you, I've been trying really hard to get a picture of these with limited success so far.

Hi Marianne, thank you, I did think about the competion thing :-)
Did you find the Goldeneye? Very tricky!!

Hi Mike, thanks, it was nice to see a few ducks for a change :-)

Hi BJK, thank you, you are right that is a Robin, they can be very obliging.

Hi Sandskatan, thank you for your comment :-)

Hi Greenie, thanks, it was a shame but at least there was a lot to see.

Hi Christian, I agree, they are really well marked birds.

Hi Ines, thank you for your comment :-)

Hi ShySongbird, thank you, same here with the Fieldfares probably outnumber Redwings at least 2 to 1 here.

Simon said...

Wow, look at all those birds!!! Sounds like you've had a great day, shame about the Merganser!

Unknown said...

Alan. Muy buena, completa y variada entrada.
Un saludo!!

Rachel J said...

Great photos!

Alan Pavey said...

Hi Simon, thanks it was great, even if it was a little cool.

Hi Ramon, thank you, there was a good variety in that little pool.

Hi Rach, thank you, hopefully see you soon :-)

Fotokarusellen said...

A wonderful post. Beautiful work.

Hamstreetbirder said...

Great pictures Alan, nice that you have seen a good number of Redwing and Fieldfare. I have found them really scarce this year on the marsh, in particular the Fieldfare, numbers really down on previous years

Rick said...

What an interesting array of birds on your site. I love that top image of the Redwing. I was in Switzerland back in April. It's so cool to see so many new birds.

Ornitocampero.blogspot.com.es said...

The redtrush very good one and the last a clear winter bird image!
Saludos !!

Friend of HK said...

The Robin is adorable!

Alan Pavey said...

Hi Fotokarusellen, thank you, I'm glad you like the images :-)

Hi Hamstreet Birder, thank you, the Fieldfares have been variable in numbers this winter, at the moment 200+ are in the local orchards.

Hi Rick, thanks for visiting, new birds are always exciting, I've not been to Switzerland but would love to go.

Hi El Campero, thank you, it certainly was wintery out there!! Saludos!!

Hi Friend of HK, thank you, I loved your post on the smaller birds in your area :-)