Sunday 10 March 2013

Having spent the week working in Holland (did manage some token birding at an inland polder with at least 10,000 Wigeon, Coot, Tufted Duck, Great Crested Grebe , Greylag Geeese in one large flock ), it was great to see what was going on the patch on Saturday morning. The weather was   quite cold and it was fairly obvious that although the first summer migrants have already been seen we were still in the grip of winter as far as the local birdlife was concerned .That been said there were a few signs of spring around with Pied Watail over north the first flock of 7 Meadow  Pipits  for awhile. Skylarks were about with 12 seen and some have started to sing . There were still 50 plus Redwing and 30 plus Fieldfare around .
There was also a large flock of 50 plus Black Headed Gull, 50 plus Lesser Black Backed Gull and 10 plus Herring Gull on sheep pasture these had the fear of god put int them when a superb Peregrine Falcon passed over heading east This is our 61st species of the year a great way to break the 60 barrier.
The best of the rest were Buzzard Green Woodpecker, Mistle Thrush and 10 Stock Dove.
 The patch list now stands at 61.
 Sunday had a north east wind and was very cold, however 4 Lesser Redpoll and a Brambling were on the feeders.
 On the patch 9 skylark were present  a Pied wagtail over north as was a Meadow Pipit. A massive 1100 plus Common Gull with 500 plus Black Headed Gull and 40 plus Lesser Black Backed Gull were on sheep Pasture
There were 50 plus Redwing with 145 plus Fieldfare and a nice flock of 30 plus  Goldfinch with 10 plus Greenfinch..
 A year tick for the patch in the form of a Cormorant flying upriver was nice.
 The best of the rest were Red Legged Partridge, Stock Dove.
The patch list is now 62