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| December! |
I was scarcely through the gate on Tuesday when I started seeing and recording birds. Four blackbirds together on the ground and a Redwing in the nearby birch tree got me off to a good start. It was only 7 degrees when I arrived at 9.15 and had only reached 10 Centigrade by the time I left three hours later, despite some intermittent sunshine. Here is my report:
Birds:
SC209694 4 x Blackbirds foraging on ground near noticeboard and Ginnie's bench; 2 Blackbirds seen elsewhere; Redwing at the top of birch tree; 2 x female Chaffinch; 3 x Blue Tit; Robin; Wren.
SC209694 ( hide) Moorhen; Wren; Raven flying over; Water Rail heard not seen.
SC210694 3 x Goldfinch flying over; Chaffinch heard not seen; 3 x Jackdaw on roof of Old School House.
SC209693 male Chaffinch; Wren; female Blackbird; Magpie heard not seen.
SC208694 6 x Goldfinch flying over; Kestrel hovering; Robin; 3 x Blue Tit together ( one emerged from nest box); male Chaffinch; Song Thrush foraging on the ground; Blackbird; Pheasant heard not seen, answering Pheasant calling from 209695 direction; Wren heard not seen.
SC208695 ( on or near the feeders) 1 male and 2 x female Chaffinch; male Blackbird; Robin; 3 x Blue Tit; Coal Tit; Greenfinch; 2 x Goldfinch; Dunnock.
SC209695 2 x male Chaffinch.
Other:
SC208694 Rabbit
SC209694 Yellow Brain fungus on gorse
SC208694 Yellow Brain fungus spreading on gorse trunk
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| 2 of the 4 Blackbirds foraging near Ginnie's Bench |
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| male Chaffinch |
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| Song Thrush foraging near the stream |
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| Song Thrush - a closer look |
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| a handsome Redwing |
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| Robin near the path junction |
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| Moorhen |
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| King of the Castle, Jackdaw |
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| Dunnock |
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| tree with feeders |
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| Greenfinch and Goldfinch |
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| soon joined by another Goldfinch |
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| Greenfinch waiting, Coal Tit on peanuts |
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| Coal Tit |
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| Blue Tit |
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| Blue Tit again |
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| Great Tit |
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| Yellow brain fungus spreading down trunk |
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| Yellow Brain in a new location |
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| looking across the reed bed |
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| the ash walk in winter |
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| view from the board walk on my arrival |
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| and just before I left - an improving picture |
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| three views of the dragonfly pond |
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| looking into the heart of the reserve from the dragonfly pond |
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| looking along the gorse boundary |
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| usual view of the hide |
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| looking through the shutters |
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| view from the ramp |
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| the meadow area |
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| some standing water in the meadow |
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| view from the bridge |
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| winter reeds |
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| there is actually a rabbit in this photo! |
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| marked by arrow |
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| weather has improved but it's time to go home! |
