Hurcott Woods, Worcestershire....27/02/2011

Bird species seen Blue Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Blackbird, Great Spotted Woodpecker, flocks of Chaffinch, Goldfinch and Siskin around the pools, Redwing, Buzzard x3, 1 Great Crested Grebe, Mallard, Coot and Canada Goose. Wild Honeysuckle in leaf, Bluebell shoots emerging also shoots of Cuckoo Pint Arum Maculatum.

Splish, splash, splosh!....26/02/2011

The rain had finally ceased so off I went to Bunkers Hill Wood to walk along the bridleway which is alongside part of the wood and ends at Roman Way, where the Waxwings had been sighted several times over the winter. I checked the Pine and Holly trees for Goldcrests, not a sausage, I mean a Goldcrest to be seen. The walk was muddy underfoot so care had to be taken, the trouble is you can miss a bird whilst looking down, never mind safety first! Plenty of Blue Tits seen and heard on the whole walk this morning and a few Great Tits occasionally seen. I hadn't walked far when the clouds came over, the wind picked up and the rain came down!! Joy of joys!!! A Yellowhammer flew on to the top of a hedgerow while I was sheltering under a tree, a lovely bright male looking as fed up as I was with the weather.lol!! Chaffinch and 3 Hen Pheasants in a field were the only other birds seen while I sheltered from the wind and rain. The small wood gave a little shelter from the gale..well gusty wind...and a Nuthatch was seen briefly. I lurked in the wood for quite a while but the only other species seen was a Grey Squirrel which seemingly followed me around the wood though no doubt there was more than one Squirrel. In the hedgerows along the path at Roman Way were Blackbird, Starling, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Dunnock, one each of Goldfinch and Greenfinch and a small flock of House Sparrows. I was particularly pleased with the House Sparrows sighting and watched them for a while as they perched in the hedgerow, delightful little birds that are sadly in great decline. On the return walk I sighted a Buzzard soaring probably the one that I had heard mewing earlier, Green Woodpecker was also heard several times but not seen today.

Overall an enjoyable couple of hours, just a pity the sun didn't shine as it did on Thursday. At least it proves that I am not just a 'fair weather' birder.lol!!


My companion in the woods!

Shelter!

A Yellowhammer waiting for the sun to shine!

I wouldn't have been surprised to see a few Ducks in this pool of water!

A walk in the long awaited sunshine....24/02/2011

A gloriously sunny and mild morning was too nice to waste being indoors! So an early morning start....well 8.30am is fairly early....and I was off to Brake Lane for a peaceful walk and fresh air! I enjoy this walk as there is normally a few people about who are either walking dogs, horse riding, jogging, cycling or just enjoying a walk. I do not feel isolated when on my own here which makes the walk more enjoyable.

As I got out of my car to get kitted up with wellies etc Blue Tits which are normally in this area were calling and a Song Thrush was in full song in one of the large gardens. As I walked down the lane I heard a Skylark, I looked up and it was flying over, so my first sighting of the year as on the 12th February I could hear but not see the Skylark. The 'egg field' had been freshly ploughed and looked much neater than when strewn with eggshells.lol! Rooks, Crows and Magpies where seen in surrounding fields.
Along the lane I saw Chaffinch, Blackbird and Long-tailed Tits. The bridleway was shall we say quite a quagmire, I walked carefully as I would have looked a sorry sight if I had slipped.lol! It will be good when walking on drier ground in the coming months, well hopefully it will be drier. As I squelched my way to the top of the bridleway I stopped periodically to look for Goldcrests but none today, however a Great Spotted Woodpecker was drumming the whole time as I walked up the hill. Once at the top of the hill I spotted 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers! One was at the very top of a tree and two were in a tree not far from it. I presume the single GSW was the one that had been drumming as the drumming had ceased, the two GSW's flew away after a short while and then the drumming could be heard again as I continued my walk. Blue & Great Tits were frequently encountered and Pied Wagtails were in the paddock along with 8 muddy looking ponies. I lingered several times in the hope of seeing Treecreeper and Nuthatch but none seen today.
As I arrived at the lake/pond a Mute Swan was looking very threatening towards the Canada Geese as it walked towards them with neck curved back and wings half raised, apparently this stance is known as 'busking', a threat display. I had seen and heard a flock of Canada Geese go over a few times on my walk, I presume they had been ushered off by the Swan several times. A Heron was enjoying the sun as it perched on a bank, Mallards, Coots, Moorhens and Gulls were on the water. Plenty of Corvids and Gulls in the fields that are on either side of the road beyond the railway bridge but not a Fieldfare or Redwing to be seen today. A Robin sang beautifully in a tree that was on the edge of a garden by the lake, the Robin looked and sounded a treat in the sunshine and with a rare blue sky as a backdrop I thought I would record the Robin as a lovely reminder of such a lovely Spring like day, the result however was not as lovely as I was hoping for.lol!!
A Sparrowhawk flew over the fields as I started on the walk back to my car and 2 Buzzards gave a great display of soaring! I could watch Buzzards all day, they seem so laid back when soaring giving a sense of freedom and at the same time power...flying high... magic!
After almost three hours walking and lingering it was time to head home as I was desperate for a .......................cuppa and a biccie! An enjoyable walk in sunshine in the main, it clouded over somewhat late morning!



Musical tones from a Robin..which were rudely interrupted.lol!


Common Buzzard Buteo Buteo

A goose and er...Kingfisher day!....20/02/2011

A short stop off at the Lickey Hills before heading to Bittell Reservoirs was fruitless! Plenty of families were out for walks on what was a misty, grey and cold day, good to see people taking in the air but no good for birdwatching. Maybe a week day visit would be more productive being quieter. Blue and Great Tits aplenty, a Raven perched in a tree was a nice sight to see and hear as it noisily took flight, Siskins were heard only! The coffee was good at the visitor centre so all was not lost.

The walk down the public footpath towards the reservoirs at Bittell was to be the highlight of the day. A Kingfisher flew along the first duck pond and landed in a Holly tree! It was motionless for a few minutes and then dived several times for fish, they were wonderful views of such a special bird! Mallard, Coot, Moorhen, Tufted Duck and Mute Swan where also on this pond.

The second pond was devoid of birds that is until reaching the end of the pond. A pair of Goosander where on the water looking stunning on the still water! A great photo opportunity of such a serene scene I thought but just as I was about to take a photo the Canada Geese that were in the field behind the pond let out such a racket then off went the Goosanders to the reservoir!! I noticed that one of the Canada Geese had a pretty neck, I think they should all look like this, it adds a bit of character.lol!!

The reservoir was busy with boats on the water and fisherman on and at the side of the water. The Goosanders seen earlier had joined several more at the far side of the water, Great Crested Grebe x10 and plenty of Gulls were on the water! No Slaty-backed Gull.....well as far as I could tell anyway.lol!!
Blue & Great Tits, Robin, Blackbird, Songthrush x2, Jay, Sparrowhawk, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Woodpigeon, Magpie and a great sight of 3 Buzzards soaring where the other species seen on this dull, damp and cold day! The Kingfisher and Goosander pair certainly brightened the day!

A Moth who came in from the cold....18/02/2011

I found my first Moth of 2011 in my kitchen this morning! It has been ID'd as being a Bright-line Brown-eye! I wonder if it is as bright this evening though as it is an early flyer, normally flying May-July, July- September! I now feel guilty having set it free in my garden this morning! A new Moth species for me and a delight to see close up.

Moors Pool, Upton Warren....18/02/2011

A quick visit late afternoon to the Moors and goodness me it was cold and it felt even colder looking at the birds on the water! Coot, Moorhen, G C Grebe, Shelduck, Shoveler, Teal, Pochard, Gadwall, Curlew (1), Mute Swan, Canada Geese and an Oystercatcher on the water with the Oystercatcher being my first of the year. Smart looking Reed Buntings were seen on the feeders. A short and pleasing visit.

Wassell Grove Fisheries....17/02/2011

On my walk around the Fisheries Blue Tits where to be seen in every tree and shrub...well not quite every one but it did seem like it! Blackbird, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Siskin, Nuthatch, Robin, Songthrush, Magpie, Carrion Crow and a Raven were other species seen and a Green Woodpecker heard only. Two Buzzards were mewing and soaring overhead probably like me enjoying the occasional glimpse of sunshine. The highlight today were the c150 flock of Redwings and Fieldfares which were feeding in the paddocks and perching in the trees, they took flight several times! I wonder if they are now grouping ready for their return to their breeding grounds? It was lovely to see such a good sized flock in flight! The Hazel trees looked a treat bedecked with catkins (male flower). Spring is starting to spring at last!