I started off with a couple of walks around the patch on New Years Day (due to late nights, getting up early and getting out for a day of birding is not something that's going to happen in my house anytime soon!). Still I was up and out before anyone in the house stirred and it was a quiet but damp walk around town.
I managed to disturb a Pied Wagtail, which flew off chirping crossly! Overhead I had a flock of 7 Pink-footed Geese, a Sparrowhawk chasing flocks of Feral Pigeons and Starlings, Black-Headed Gulls and Crows. Lots of other birds around too, it was such a dull day though every bird almost looks black and white!
In the park the trees were full of Blackbirds, there was a large flock of Redwings too, but they scattered pretty quickly. Lots of Goldfinch in the treetops, their song accompanied me around the park.
I saw that the Kingfisher had been spotted again down by the dipping pond in Churwell Woods so in the afternoon I went to have a look. Of course no luck, really there was too many people out for a walk at that time of day. Walking the length of the woods brought plenty of other birds including Great Spotted Woodpecker, Goldfinch, Long-tailed Tits and my first Greenfinch in months.
Then a bird appeared on a tree that i've not seen on the patch before - a Treecreeper! It was running around the trunk and posed beautifully. That made up for the lack of Kingfisher, such a cracking little bird.
Since then i've picked up a few new birds over the past week or so on my walks to work and a couple of short visits to the Woods. The Kingfisher has eluded me and i'm not sure it's been seen again.
It's been a dreary foggy dull wet week this week but every morning about 6.30 i've heard a Robin singing and today despite all the damp fog for the first time in a while I walked to work surrounded by birdsong, the dawn chorus is on it's way!
So far my total is 31 birds, which is a big chunk of my overall total from last year so a good start? We'll see how it goes!
It's been a dreary foggy dull wet week this week but every morning about 6.30 i've heard a Robin singing and today despite all the damp fog for the first time in a while I walked to work surrounded by birdsong, the dawn chorus is on it's way!
So far my total is 31 birds, which is a big chunk of my overall total from last year so a good start? We'll see how it goes!
We don't have magpies here in my part of North America and I always wish that we did. They are such engaging birds - noisy, bold, and very engaging. It is always a delight to see them when I visit Europe.
ReplyDeleteThey are certainly noisy, you usually hear them before you see them! We've watched them tease cats in the garden before, they seem to enjoy it!
DeleteI love seeing the magpies when I'm out west they are so beautiful and they seem to engage in human watching activities. Your patch totals on the way up good going! I have been battling the weather in every direction here too...it's a game of dice every day anymore!
ReplyDeleteThe Magpies are quite sociable! Thanks re the Treecreeper :) they are normally constantly on the move!
DeleteOh Drat I meant to mention the treecreeper...What an awesome shot you got of him/her! Great new addition to your Patch List...and how streamlined they are and fast moving!! I've never been successful at getting a shot of the Brown Treecreeper we have here in my area.
ReplyDeleteThat's a good start to the year!
ReplyDeleteThanks Louise :)
DeleteWell done, good start to list.. (have left another comment, not sure if I pressed send ?)
ReplyDeleteAmanda xx
Thanks Amanda :) (I only got one comment?) xx
DeleteYou've made a great start to the year list. Great to get some Tree Creeper photos too :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, I was really chuffed to see the Treecreeper!
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