Xmas Day

Merry Xmas to all!

Took the wife and dog for an early morning walk around the reservior. Having been there yesterday I was keen to show her the Redpoll but as luck would have it couldn’t locate any. It was really mild but there was a bit of a breeze blowing.

It was quite quiet, the Raven were still around and at last I found a small group of four Wigeon the first of the winter – not quiet a flock!

There were not as many thrushes today but I saw a few Siskin around. I think we need a cold spell to get some birds moving.

Christmas Eve

Broke up from work yesterday so today was the first time I have had time to get over – it was that or shopping! It seemed quiet, wildfowl numbers this winter have been extremely disappointing so far. There were around 150 Pochard and at least I had a couple of Goosander fly over, the first since September. There were two pairs of Raven fighting it out over the right to reside at Shustoke, I don’t know who won but they were very noisy about it. I had a Green Woodpecker and Nuthatch near the small pool.

There were a lot of winter thrushes with 400 Fieldfare/Redwing in the area. I also had two flocks of Redpoll number around 30 birds the first of the year.

Sunday 18 December

I took a walk over early this morning but there was not a lot to report. There were a lot of winter thrushes around especially Redwing. On the small pool there was a single Teal and there were 150+ Pochard. The Wigeon flock has not returned yet this year, but it was late on last year before they arrived.

The weather was strange this morning with bright sunshine hampering views to the south, whilst a snow shower and heavy grey clouds hampered viewing to the north – you can’t win sometimes.

My feeders at home have been strangely quiet as well with very few birds around.

I have been away

Hi folks, sorry for the lack of posts but I have been in Tenerife for eight days, it is the only chance my wife gets for anything like a normal holiday! I still managed to take my small binoculars with me – not that there was much in the way of birds. The apartment is situated between Los Christianos and Playa de la Americanas, concrete jungle would be an apt description. However, I did see a few species, with Whimbrel, Grey Plover, Turnstone, Dunlin and Ringed Plover representing the waders. African Blue Tit, Monk Parakeet, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Kestrel, Spanish Sparrow, Spectacled Warbler, Blackcap and Canary Island Chiffchaff.

I doesn’t seem like there has been much around although the Smew was seen a couple of times after it was first reported. I will get over at the weekend then I should be getting a little bit more back to normal after that.

Wednesday 30th November

Redhead Smew, (S. Cawthray).