1st January - Garden
The new year got of to a cracking start when I had 3 Blackcaps (1♂ & 2♀) visiting the garden feeding station. As this was the maximum I have had this winter I decided to submit my sightings to the BTO Garden Blackcap Survey :
http://www.bto.org/volunteer-surveys/gbw/about/background/projects/garden_blackcap_survey
It is a useful exercise and if you have Blackcaps wintering and visiting your garden, get involved as the information will be of great use to the organisation in looking at migratory trends and garden food sources.
3rd January - Shenstone
On a quick patch visit I located the wintering Corn Bunting flock, which seems to have dispersed a somewhat with only 26 Corn Bunting present. At a different location on patch I observed a further 3 Corn Buntings.
5th January - Wyre Forest
A walk in the Wyre with Bev was a great way to blow away some of those post festive cobwebs. We didn't connect with the Hawfinches on this occasion but we did see a nice mix of species including 22 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Mandarin Ducks (1♂, 1♀) and 2 Marsh Tits.
6th January - Grimley & Holt
A trip to Holt & Grimley with TS made for a nice change of scene with a variety of wildfowl on offer. The highlight of which being a pair of Pintail. I cannot begin to describe how smart looking a drake Pintail is but needless to say they are one of my favourite ducks. Holt was fairly quite on the wildfowl front but the c.240 Lapwing on the flooded field were a welcome sight. Also of note was a flock of c.40 Siskin and a handful of Lesser Redpoll that were feeding in the nearby Alders.
♂ Siskin - 6th January 2013
6th January - Shenstone
On the way back from Grimley we decided to pop into the patch and do a walk to check out the finch/bunting flocks. This paid off as I managed to locate the ♂ Brambling, that had been present at the end of last year, with the Chaffinch flock. Also of note was a single ♀/imm. Lesser Redpoll, 80 Linnet, 40 Corn Buntings and 3 Yellowhammers.
9th January - Shenstone
I observed a flock of 29 Golden Plover fly, in typical skein like formation, over Witch Lane late afternoon heading SW.
10th January - Hanbury Wharf/Hadzor
Today I undertook a BTO Winter Thrush Survey core site walk. It was at an area I had never been to before and didn't really know what to expect in terms of bird numbers there. In total I only recorded 22 Redwing and 77 Fieldfare but i did have a bonus bird in the form of a ♀ Brambling that was feeding with a large Chaffinch flock near Hanbury Wharf.
14th January - Hartlebury
Today I paid a visit to Hartlebury trading Estate to see if the Waxwings were still present. They were and in total I noted a flock of 13 Waxwings still visiting that location
15th January - Eymore Wood
Early afternoon I headed to Eymore wood to look for Common Crossbills. I had no joy on that front but did see a flock of 11 Golden Plover flyover heading East. Most likely a bit of cold weather movement.
15th January - Brake Mill Pool
From Eymore wood I headed over to Brake Mill Pool near Hagley. Here there were 11 Goosander (5♂) present. Also of note were 2 Little Grebes.
Whats the Shenstone list on so far this year Jase ? Or do you not do lists :-)
ReplyDeleteI don't tend to chase a year list Warren but I do keep a patch list as I go through the year...that said I haven't as yet in 2013
ReplyDeleteNice little summary post there jase. You havent done to badly with the local birding. I havent got around much recently, so have still to visit all these locations to get the ncie local species!
ReplyDeleteMB
Lovely photo of the Siskin Jason and of the Fieldfare on the previous post. More snow here today has brought Fieldfares into my garden too.
ReplyDeleteCraig - Cheers mate. Not too bad at all to be honest. A pity there was no sign of Crosbills although I spoke to a birder I know recently and he saw a flock of c.30 between Trimperley and Dowles
ReplyDeleteJan - thanks! It just goes to show what the cold weather can bring in to our gardens!