Sunday 12 February 2012

The expected overnight frost made for a very cold visit this morning, added to that just about everything that can fall from the sky did, Snow, Sleet, hail, freezing rain and just plain old rain!! All this fell onto an iron hard frozen ground, giving it a coating of ice, a very unpleasant morning.

It was unsurprising then, that not much birding activity was recorded, just 37 species turned out, mostly the local regulars, with very few highlights for the day. I repeatedly heard the sound of SKYLARKS going over as I crossed Migrant Alley, but only a few singles were seen, the SISKIN flock along the College Stream was still feeding in the Alders, probably in excess of 100 birds, a GREY HERON flew from the water, just about the only open water left around here. The COMMON GULL that flew over the College Grounds was just about the only other highlight for the walk, and maybe the 36 LAPWING at the Tree Nursery could be added as a highlight. The MEADOW PIPIT flock may have moved on, as only one was seen around the Greenhouse Grounds.

The lakes remained totally frozen, and there was no sign of life at all on them at all, the Coots seem to have moved on now. The surrounding Scrubby Woods had NUTHATCH and BULLFINCH, but none of the other scarcer woodland species, such as Treecreeper, Long Tailed Tit or Coal Tit were seen. Not the best of days for a patch visit!

I spent a couple of hours watching my garden feeders later in the day, hoping for a Brambling to show, but it didn't, however a good showing of twenty other species did, here's the list and peak counts of each.....

6 GOLDFINCH, 8 GREENFINCH, 8 CHAFFINCH, 2 BULLFINCH (pair), 3 SISKIN, 14 BLUE TITS, 4 GREAT TITS, 2 LONG TAILED TITS, 1 COAL TIT, 2 DUNNOCK, 3 ROBIN, 2 COLLARED DOVE, 6 STARLING, 9 BLACKBIRDS, 1 SONG THRUSH, 3 WOODPIGEON, 1 WREN, 3 GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER, 1 MAGPIE and 2 NUTHATCH, no wonder there wasn't much out on my patch   :-)

Not a camera day today, so i'll put up the last of the species photographed in last Sundays snow, the last of which is only now beginning to thaw this afternoon.
Great Tit
Great Tit
Robin
Blackbird
Blackbird

9 comments:

Marc Heath said...

The snow I think is on its way out. It has certainly turned up a few good birds. Some nice shots Warren.

Lancashire and Lakeland Outback Adventure Wildlife Safaris said...

Boiling up here Warren - nearly had a sweat on.
Excellent garden selection again

Cheers

Davo

Greenie said...

Warren ,
That certainly was a horrible morning . Believe it or not , I was supposed to be re-siting reptile refugia up on the Greensand Ridge , it didn't happen .

Wilma said...

Warren, your bird photos just keep getting better and better! Wonderful lighting on today's subjects. Too cold to go out here ...

Anonymous said...

None of the wintery stuff up here today, Warren. But then again, that could almost could be said about the birds.

Chris said...

Beautiful set of pictures Warren and a nice birding day. Still did not go out for a while over here, the weather is awful even if the snow is gone!

Simon said...

Well done with the Bullfinch - for some reason the park ones have gone quiet!

Millhouse Photography said...

Lovely little bird shots Warren. I do love the great tits. That sounds a little wrong, but you know what I mean!

ShySongbird said...

I suspect that your snow, like ours, has pretty well gone today, very dull here though.

Lovely photos again Warren which could grace any Christmas card.