You Don't Know What You've Got 'Til It's Gone....08/03/2102

Starlings...the last sighting I had of them in my garden was August 2011 so I was more than delighted to see two (hopefully a pair) on the suet feeder in my garden this morning! I am also hoping House Sparrows will at least pay a visit during Spring/Summer, another species in times gone by seen daily in my garden and now rarely visits.

Hey farmer, farmer Put away that DDT now, Give me spots on my apples But leave me the birds and the bees Please! .......... Don't it always seem to go That you don't know what you've got 'Til its gone, They paved paradise And put up a parking lot.

A Kit of Woodpigeons....06/03/2012

A sunny day today and having an hour to spare this afternoon I had a short walk around Wassell Grove Pools. A flock of c300 Woodpigeons were feeding busily in a field when suddenly they took flight and headed my way! They were so low I could feel the downdraught from their wingbeats, fortunately nothing landed on or close by me! I know they were only Woodpigeons but it was a nice sight to see so many. Most of the Woodpigeons headed for the nearby trees, they were still perched and lapping up the warm(ish) sunshine when I returned to my car. Robin, Blue & Great Tit, Blackbird, Skylark and a Buzzard were the only other bird species seen on my short walk. Several plants of Coltsfoot now in flower were a delight to see in the sunshine.

A Storytelling of Ravens...well two to be precise....02/03/2012

With the weekend weather sounding decidedly wintery I took the chance to take a Friday afternoon walk, my intention was to walk a circular route starting from Brake lane. I had intended to do this walk on the 25th February but that did not happen as a young man walking his dog informed me that there was a large flock of Yellowhammers along the edge of a field that were looking splendid in the sunshine! A "10 minute walk along the bridleway" said the young man, so off I toddled. Well 10 minutes to a dog walker is 30 minutes plus for a lingering birdwatcher. I eventually reached the field (by County Lane) and found nothing!! Hardly surprising really as there were a few cars parked close by and children having a riding lesson in a field/paddock just along the lane. Having seen practically zilch on the way and also on the return journey all but 2 shooters in a field , which probably explains the lack of birds, I decided to forego my planned 'circular' walk and headed home for a cuppa! I am sure the Dog walker meant well but I felt it was a bit of a 'fools errand' to be honest, the walk did me good though.lol! Anyway that is by the by. As I arrived at Brake lane a Skylark was singing and after a quick scan of the sky I spotted it, amazing little birds how they hover and sing so loudly and sweetly! A couple of Yellowhammers were perched on a distant hedgerow, Blackbirds were picking over fallen leaves and a couple of Chaffinch did a flypast. One of the fields was being ploughed over so not a lot of birdlife at the start of the walk, a Mistle Thrush perched in a tree was making known it's annoyance at the disturbance as it's rattling call sounded out above me , I stood and watched it for awhile it didn't seem at all perturbed at my presence. After negotiating the slightly muddy bridlepath I was well chuffed to hear and then see a Raven as it flew over and around a paddock, further along the walk I heard it again and this time it had a mate flying just in front of it, they looked a splendid sight! I was to see and hear one of the Ravens at least three times more on my walk, the final sighting was at the end of my walk as one of the Ravens flushed a large mixed flock of c60 Fieldfare and Redwings from the tops of a row of trees, defending territory.... hopefully. A small flock of Starlings were good to see again, it seem's a good while since I have seen any in this area. The usual were on and around the Lake with the addition today of a Little Grebe and a Goosander, the Goosander being too far away for a good photo, I did try but unsuccessfully so I ended up taking a short video. Not long to wait now for the Swallows to return to this area! I lingered for a lengthy time watching an area at the end of two gardens, there are plenty of trees and vegetation here and also the stream runs through, the public footpath overlooks this area..fortunately! Great Spotted Woodpecker x2, Songthrush, Nuthatch, Blue Tits, Great Tits and a Wren were viewed here. Green Woodpecker x 2 took flight as I approached a paddock, I was later to hear them 'yaffling'. 3 Buzzards circled high above me, I could watch them all day, such stunning birds! As I neared the end of my walk I came across a Collared Dove and a male and female Greenfinch, two species I have not encountered here for a few months. It is encouraging to see blossoms opening, buds appearing and fresh new leaves sprouting on trees and shrubs. At long last we are well on the way to much longer days, shorter nights and the welcome return of our Summer migrants.

February finale.

21st Feb A male Bullfinch in my garden in the morning which returned with a female early afternoon. It was just under 12 months since my last sighting of a Bullfinch in my garden.

23rd Feb. Blackbird and Blackcap enjoying the apples in my garden.

25th Feb A Common Buzzard over my garden.

25th Feb Brake lane. Robin, Dunnock, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Yellowhammer, Starling, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Fieldfare, Jay, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Corvids, B H Gull. Snowdrops and Winter Aconite.

26th Feb Dowles Brook, Wyre Forest. Blue Tit, Great Tit, Marsh Tit, Wren, Chaffinch, Goldcrest, Blackbird, Robin, House Sparrow, Grey Wagtail, Dipper x2 (in flight). 26th Feb Red Kite over my garden.

Friday at the Fisheries....17/02/2012

With Saturdays weather forecast to be wet and cold and today being dull but mild I decided a Friday afternoon walk would be the best plan. A Goldcrest moving swiftly along the hedgerow was the first sighting as I walked along the top path and then a male and two female Bullfinches in the trees, I would imagine they are now eating the new buds that are starting to appear. Plenty of bird song and calls were heard from Great and Blue Tits, Robins and the odd Blackbird. The mild temperature today had brought out the gnats, I walked through small clouds of them at times making me feel a bit itchy.lol! On the pools were Mallard, Moorhen, Canada Geese and a lone Black-headed Gull circled the pools. Other highlights today were Great Spotted Woodpecker, Pheasant and a flock of 30+ Winter Thrushes in flight, I reckon Redwings but couldn't be certain. So, nothing out of the ordinary seen but an enjoyable walk just the same!

Brrrrrr ....Brake Mill Pool....11/02/2012

Brrr indeed!! It was -6.9c at 6.45am so I wasn't in any rush to set out early, I waited until 9.00am with the temperature outside now being a heady -2.6c. On arrival the pool was partly frozen but had defrosted on my walk back past the lake just under a couple of hours later! On the water were Mallard, Moorhen, Tufted Duck, Mute Swan family, BHG & LBBG x2, Heron and Coot. I noticed that the cold temperatures had not cooled the ardour of the Coots!! At one point a male Coot chased off a young pretender, they can certainly shift in water, they looked like two speedboats racing! I walked along the public footpath that leads towards Stakenbridge Lane, having past the first paddock I reached the wooded areas that are on each side of the path, I often linger in this area for quite a while as it is usually quite productive. The sun by now was shining brightly and I had to use the tree trunks as a shade from the sun or else I would not have seen anything at all. I was entertained by the sweet twittering of a flock of Siskins feeding high in the Alders, Blue & Great Tits were seemingly everywhere and I was thrilled with the sighting of two Treecreepers. I was even more thrilled to catch sight of a Kingfisher as it perched for a few seconds on an overhanging branch over the stream, the stream runs off from the Pool and is between two gardens. How lovely to have a stream through your garden and see such lovely birds as Kingfishers and Grey Wagtails, maybe one day I will win the Lottery and have such a garden.lol! Other highlight birds were Nuthatch, Blackbird, Long-tailed Tit, Robin, Chaffinch, Jay, Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Sparrowhawk. An enjoyable but very cold walk/amble today.

Garden update. The female Blackcap is still daily in my garden, the downside since the recent cold snap is that I now have at least 6 Blackbirds in my garden for the majority of the day and she is having to share the apples and pears with more Blackbirds. No doubt she will soon be on her way, I shall miss seeing her. The Redwing has eaten every berry that was on the Holly tree, it was joined by a few more Redwings eventually! I had 5 Redwings and 1 Fieldfare (briefly) in the garden during the cold snap. I also had a fleeting visit on the 10th of 3 Redpoll(sp) that flew in to a Silver Birch, they are a first for my garden. A female Sparrowhawk enjoyed a rest on one of my nest boxes yesterday (15th), she looked as though she had just enjoyed a good meal!

Birdies day....14/02/2012