Sunday 5th December 2010 - Shenstone

I finally got back out on the patch this afternoon. Temperatures were a bit milder (just above freezing) and it was sunny with clear blue sky. There was however some rather treacherous Ice patches on the lanes...one such one on Stanklyn Lane sent me for a right burton!

I started at Back Lane where 5 Blackbirds, 3 Redwings and a Fieldfare were feeding on the Hawthorn hedge at the top of the triangle. Heath Lane was devoid of birds and Stanklyn Lane paddocks were not much better with a single Common Buzzard being the only bird of note.

Luckily the Stanklyn Lane beet field was much more productive with c.80 Linnets feeding below the large tree in the middle of the field. c.60 Wood Pigeons were feeding in the adjacent stubble and c.40 Skylarks flew up there when spooked by a walker. C.40 Starlings, a ♀ Kestrel and a ♀ Great Spotted Woodpecker were present in the trees bordering the field. The mixed finch/bunting flock was again feeding at the back of the carrot field and as well as Greenfinches and Chaffinches, it still contained 3 Yellowhammers (2♂), the ♀ Brambling and small numbers of Goldfinch. 11 Long-tailed Tits were seen along the hedgerow here and 2 Sparrowhawks (1♂ & 1♀) went through the finch flock on a couple of occasions.

Greenfinch - 5th December 2010:


3 comments:

  1. Gotta watch those slippy bits Jase :-)

    Nice finch flock you have there, something thats not often seen here, apart from at my garden feeders !

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  2. Glad you'r back on your feet, well for a bit anyway ;@)...there was a lot of black ice on side roads today

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  3. Cheers Chaps...yep It was great to get out there...I've got to optimize my visits before the next bout of whatever I'm gonna catch ;-)

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