Thursday 15 January 2015

An overnight storm finally cleared around 09:00hrs, but it remained overcast and windy for todays patch visit.

As is usual for the winter months, I headed off to the lakes and scrubby Woods first off, always hoping for a new duck species for the year list, unfortunately, as is nearly always the case, none were seen, however, it was a bonus to see two more female GOOSANDER on the main lake, plus having close views of a KINGFISHER was a real pleasure, just a shame there was no light for a photo of it  :-(

Looking through the Scrubby Woods I found GOLDCREST, LONG TAILED TIT and COAL TIT, plus a pair of BULLFINCH, which I got to within ten meters of, but again the light was so poor the photo's came out rubbish! As I left the area a CORMORANT circled over the main lake, but didn't drop in.

Crossing the Ashes Lane Field, the MEADOW PIPITS were heard on the wind, as was a flyover YELLOWHAMMER, but they went unseen.

The KESTREL pair were seen on the Greenhouses, where they were observed mating, looks like they will breed here again this year  :-) Around the grounds the usual PIED WAGTAILS, WRENS, DUNNOCKS, ROBINS a few GOLDFINCH and a SONGTHRUSH with two REDWINGS were seen.

A scan of the windswept sheep pasture and paddocks at Migrant Alley only revealed the massed flocks of ROOKS, JACKDAWS, WOODPIGEONS and STARLINGS, as well as the BLACK HEADED GULLS, which today had been joined by 5 COMMON GULLS and 8 HERRING GULLS.

Not a very inspiring visit today!

A couple of yesterdays garden images to brighten the post...........

Blackbird

Goldfinch

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