As I was going away with work on Wednesday I managed a quick sneaky peak on the patch on Wednesday morning and to be fair it turned out to be a good idea,
There was nothing new for the year but there were a fair few birds around and maybe a hint of a few birds perhaps beginning to filter northwards .
It was a fairly mild morning after a frost with some cloud warming the proceedings up a little bit .Winter Thrush were about and a good number of Redwing were on the thawing pastures with 125 plus and 26 plus Fieldfare with them. Both species of birds are at their best right now as they begin to smarten up for the breeding season in Northern Europe. Blackbirds seemed to be everywhere with 32 plus been seen ,its been a great winter for this species this year. Sometimes up to seven birds are on the lawn at the cottage feeding near the feeders. 2 Mistle Thrush and 6 Song Thrush made up the Thrush species .
Starlings were in amongst the winter Thrush and a nice count of 225 plus were seen .They will soon start to disappear back to their breeding grounds soon as well ,although we will be left with a few breeding birds for the summer.
On the pastures a good count of 13 Stock Dove fed on the rough pasture and they were kept company by 7 Skylark and a cracking count of at least 88 plus Meadow pipits , are the latter wintering birds or the start of the very earliest spring returnees ? Whatever that's a good count for this time if year.
Just a few Pied Wagtails were seen with just 3 ,they all seemed to have disappeared after a few decent numbers.
With the Bunting and Finch fest happening nearby I tried to join the party, but for all my efforts I could only manage to come up with a mixed Finch flock (first so far of the winter) which consisted of 30 plus Goldfinch ,20 plus Chaffinch and 6 Green finch .I will give it another go on Saturday morning. A couple of Bullfinch flew over with both male and female been seen, really top birds .
Overhead the first Raven for a while gronked its way over 4 Buzzards were floating about. The by now regular wintering female Kestrel cruised over ,looking for a lunch time snack.
The best of the rest were a garden Jay and a calling Green Woodpecker.
Although the garden feeders have been busy ,nothing different has been seen although good numbers of Great, Blue and Long Tailed Tits have been busy feeding on the fat balls and Sunflower and bird food .
Saturday awaits
