 |
| No sunny blue sky today |
Birds:
SC210694 Dunnock; Robin singing;
SC209693 Blackbird
SC209694 ( from Hide) 2 x Long Tailed Tit; male Chaffinch; Wren; 2 x Magpie flying over; 2 x Wood Pigeon flying over
SC209694 ( gorse boundary) Song Thrush; Robin; female Blackbird.
SC209694 ( path junction) Robin; Long Tailed Tit.
SC208694 ( dam) female Sparrowhawk flying over at low level.; male Reed Bunting flew from Alder into reeds.
SC208694 (Willows) Goldfinch; 2 x Blue Tit; Great Tit;
SC208694 ( boardwalk) Robin; 2 x Long Tailed Tit; female Blackbird; Great Tit; Wren. Blue Tit
SC209695 ( near private entrance) Magpie
SC208695 ( old beehive loop) Wren; 2 x Great Tit; Pheasant heard but not seen; female Blackbird.
The Sparrowhawk was at low level and I had a beautiful view of it.
 |
| spot the reed bunting! |
 |
| I often see Blue Tits in the reeds like this |
 |
| Great Tit |
 |
| Long Tailed Tit |
 |
| Gloomy! |
Next day (Friday, 9th February) I called in the Reserve briefly to do a job ahead of Saturday's Work Party ( later cancelled). The weather was much brighter but everywhere eerily quiet. I noticed one Blackthorn had open flowers at SC209694. No birds about though. I walked along the road to the alder thicket and spotted 3 ducks - 2 Mallard and 1 rather beautiful hybrid SC209692.
 |
| nice to see the sun again |
 |
| the hybrid duck was larger than the male Mallard |
 |
| 57 varieties, I think |
Monday morning ( 12th February) found me back at the Reserve for a site visit with others. All sorts of birds seemed to be flitting about but there was no time to stop and photograph them. I made a mental note of what was seen where and then before leaving did just one circuit with the binoculars and camera to make a more detailed record. Here's the list:
We are now hoping to hold the postponed work party this coming Saturday, 17th February, so fingers crossed for some dry weather!
Birds:
SC208694 Robin; female Blackbird; Long Tailed Tit ;Chaffinch; Wren; Snipe;
SC209695 Wren; Blue Tit; Great Tit; The Wren was briefly on top of the nest box and the other two were close by.
SC209693 2 x Reed Bunting ( 1m 1f) ; Wren
SC209694 Great Tit
Other:
SC209695 first Gorse Shield Bug of the year.
 |
| Gorse Shieldbug enjoying the sunshine |
 |
| I disturbed the pair of Reed Buntings which flew up together from a tree by the path. The female landed close by but I lost sight of the male. |
 |
| female Reed Bunting |
 |
| a closer view |
 |
| view across the brambles to the potential wild flower meadow |
Just click the photos to enlarge.
