Friday, 18 March 2011
Feathers recycled....18/03/2011
I spotted a Long-tailed Tit this morning gathering the Blackbird feathers that were left on my lawn following the Sparrowhawk feast! Good to see that they are being recycled!
Bullfinches visit!....17/03/2011
I had a surprise visit by a pair of Bullfinches early this morning! They are rare visitors in my garden and hardly ever stay for long after they have fed. The last pair in my garden was in June of last year. Always nice to see new garden visitors and a special treat when they are such colourful birds as the Bullfinches!
So, not a rare/scarce species but special birds nonetheless and I didn't have to step outside of my front door to go looking for them. Magic!!!
So, not a rare/scarce species but special birds nonetheless and I didn't have to step outside of my front door to go looking for them. Magic!!!
Monday, 14 March 2011
Guess who came in for Breakfast?....14/03/2011
An unlucky Blackbird was on the menu for breakfast for this male Sparrowhawk in my garden this morning. We had a sharp frost this morning so no doubt the Sparrowhawk was ready for a meal!
Not surprisingly my garden was devoid of little birds, only a bolshie Magpie and two Woodpigeons were having a look around for food. No doubt the Magpie was after scraps once the Sparrowhawk had finished with it's kill!
When I returned home from therapy...retail therapy...all that remained of the Blackbird was a pile of feathers and it's beak.
Not surprisingly my garden was devoid of little birds, only a bolshie Magpie and two Woodpigeons were having a look around for food. No doubt the Magpie was after scraps once the Sparrowhawk had finished with it's kill!
When I returned home from therapy...retail therapy...all that remained of the Blackbird was a pile of feathers and it's beak.
Dowles Brook, Wyre Forest....13/03/2011
Birds seen today at Dowles Brook: Dipper, Marsh, Great, Blue and Coal Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Blackbird, House Sparrow, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Bullfinch, Siskin, Redpoll, Nuthatch, Goldcrest, Yellowhammer, Raven and Sparrowhawk. I missed a Hawfinch as I was enjoying the splendid views of Bramblings!
Buzzards were very much in evidence as they soared fairly low over the woodland, a delight to watch.
Buzzards were very much in evidence as they soared fairly low over the woodland, a delight to watch.
Saturday, 12 March 2011
Wassell Grove Fisheries....12/03/2011
After a cloudy start to the morning the sun eventually broke through the clouds and it felt pleasantly warm in sheltered areas. Birds seen on my walk today were Blue and Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Robin, Dunnock, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Blackbird, Bullfinch (x2 male), Starling, Mallard, Canada Geese, Woodpigeon (large flocks), Magpie, Carrion Crow, Buzzard x2, Skylark, GSW drumming, Green Woodpecker heard and a noisy Cockerel heard and seen!
My first sighting of Coltsfoot this year.
EDIT: A flock of 14 Waxwings were perched in a tree four gardens away from my garden!
My first sighting of Coltsfoot this year.
EDIT: A flock of 14 Waxwings were perched in a tree four gardens away from my garden!
Tuesday, 8 March 2011
A Waxwing and walking weekend....5th & 6th March 2011
Saturday
A cold, frosty and misty early Saturday morning was not very inspiring, nevertheless made of tough stuff I did not wimp out and headed off to Brake Lane for a refreshing walk! A Song Thrush and a Robin were singing merrily away despite the gloomy morning and the drumming of Great Spotted Woodpeckers was to be heard many times on my walk. Jackdaws aplenty in the paddocks and in the fields along with large flocks of Gulls which were in the main B H Gulls though I did pick out 2 L B B Gulls but no Slaty-backed Gull, I will give up trying.lol! Woodpigeons and Carrion Crows were to be seen in several locations on the walk the Woodpigeons being seen in large flocks! On reaching the top of the bridleway I spotted a perched Buzzard, shortly after it swooped down to the paddock. I did not see it afterwards as the paddock sloped away from me but the Buzzard did not appear again so it obviously had found it's breakfast. At the end of the wooded area I came across a Great Spotted Woodpecker and watched it for quite awhile as it searched the tree trunks for insects whilst another GSW drummed away in the distance. Good to get such great views of the GSW as it flitted from tree to tree. Sights such as this make the effort of getting out and walking on a cold day such as today worthwhile! Other highlights today were Marsh, Blue & Great Tit and a pair of Nuthatch.
Sunday
A welcome surprise flock of Waxwings descended on trees two gardens away from mine on Sunday morning! I counted 40 but there were decidedly many more than this number, hard to count them when they surround the trees! They flew periodically from tree to tree and stayed for around 15 minutes! A wonderful sight to see so close to home. A pity they will soon be on their way as they have brightened what has been a dull and cold long Winter.
Trimpley Reservoir was on the agenda for Sunday afternoon. Eymore Wood was the first stage of the walk with surprisingly very little about, with just Siskin, Greenfinch and Raven heard. At the reservoir Tufted Duck, Coot, Moorhen, Mallard, Canada Geese, Great Crested Grebe x3 were on the water and Pied Wagtails flitted amongst the rocks at the edge of the water. It was a lovely sunny afternoon with hardly a cloud in the sky and it almost felt as though Spring had finally arrived, 5 Buzzards must have thought the same as they soared high in the sky, a lovely sight! The walk alongside the River Severn was in the shade so a drop in temperature but still an enjoyable walk especially when the 3 pairs of Mandarin Ducks were sighted! They are such stunning Ducks that seem to have an air of elegance about them! Further along the river were 2 pairs of Goosanders which to me also have an air of elegance! It was a long afternoons walk today and after yesterdays 3 hour walk I think a few days rest will now be in order.lol!!
A cold, frosty and misty early Saturday morning was not very inspiring, nevertheless made of tough stuff I did not wimp out and headed off to Brake Lane for a refreshing walk! A Song Thrush and a Robin were singing merrily away despite the gloomy morning and the drumming of Great Spotted Woodpeckers was to be heard many times on my walk. Jackdaws aplenty in the paddocks and in the fields along with large flocks of Gulls which were in the main B H Gulls though I did pick out 2 L B B Gulls but no Slaty-backed Gull, I will give up trying.lol! Woodpigeons and Carrion Crows were to be seen in several locations on the walk the Woodpigeons being seen in large flocks! On reaching the top of the bridleway I spotted a perched Buzzard, shortly after it swooped down to the paddock. I did not see it afterwards as the paddock sloped away from me but the Buzzard did not appear again so it obviously had found it's breakfast. At the end of the wooded area I came across a Great Spotted Woodpecker and watched it for quite awhile as it searched the tree trunks for insects whilst another GSW drummed away in the distance. Good to get such great views of the GSW as it flitted from tree to tree. Sights such as this make the effort of getting out and walking on a cold day such as today worthwhile! Other highlights today were Marsh, Blue & Great Tit and a pair of Nuthatch.
Sunday
A welcome surprise flock of Waxwings descended on trees two gardens away from mine on Sunday morning! I counted 40 but there were decidedly many more than this number, hard to count them when they surround the trees! They flew periodically from tree to tree and stayed for around 15 minutes! A wonderful sight to see so close to home. A pity they will soon be on their way as they have brightened what has been a dull and cold long Winter.
Trimpley Reservoir was on the agenda for Sunday afternoon. Eymore Wood was the first stage of the walk with surprisingly very little about, with just Siskin, Greenfinch and Raven heard. At the reservoir Tufted Duck, Coot, Moorhen, Mallard, Canada Geese, Great Crested Grebe x3 were on the water and Pied Wagtails flitted amongst the rocks at the edge of the water. It was a lovely sunny afternoon with hardly a cloud in the sky and it almost felt as though Spring had finally arrived, 5 Buzzards must have thought the same as they soared high in the sky, a lovely sight! The walk alongside the River Severn was in the shade so a drop in temperature but still an enjoyable walk especially when the 3 pairs of Mandarin Ducks were sighted! They are such stunning Ducks that seem to have an air of elegance about them! Further along the river were 2 pairs of Goosanders which to me also have an air of elegance! It was a long afternoons walk today and after yesterdays 3 hour walk I think a few days rest will now be in order.lol!!
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