Sunday 30th December 2012 - Shenstone

Although this post is from 2012 and I am actually typing it up in 2013, I would like to wish you all a happy New Year.

My visit to the patch on the 30th of December was to be my last of the year.  I had spoken to Tony earlier that day who informed me that he had seen a ♂ Brambling and 2 ♂ Lesser Redpolls just off Stanklyn Lane whilst out walking that morning.  Both of which would be patch year ticks for me so I headed over early afternoon.

On arriving at the patch it wasn't long before I picked up the flock of c.50 Corn Buntings and 5 Yellowhammers.  There was lots of finch activity in the area with 2 flocks each containing c.30 Linnet and a flock of c.40 Goldfinch wheeling about over the stubble fields.  Continuing my walk I connected with a mixed flock of c.100 Chaffinch and 10 Greenfinch that were perching up periodically in the nearby trees.  On scanning through them with my scope I soon picked up what I was after, the ♂ Brambling and not long afterwards I added a 2nd Brambling (♀) to the day's tally.

Not long after enjoying the Bramblings everything went up from the stubble field, so I quickly scanned for a raptor.  I was in luck, heading low and fast over the stubble field was a cracking ♂ Merlin.  It was the first ♂ I had seen this winter although I have recorded a ♀/imm. locally on a handful of occasions.  The bird continued across the stubble heading NE until it was lost to sight.

On my way back along the footpath I encountered a group of 3 Goldcrests (1 adult ♂) and managed to connect with a single ♀/imm. Lesser Redpoll.

Heath Lane by contrast to the previous area was incredibly quiet with the only notables being a Common Buzzard at the paddock and 2 Red-legged Partridge at the model aircraft field.

This was by far my most productive and enjoyable patch visit in a long while, with two patch year ticks and a male Merlin right at the years end.  It will be interesting to see what 2013 brings (better weather hopefully!)

Brambling - 30th Dec 2012















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7 comments:

  1. well done on adding 2 patch year ticks right at the death Jase.

    All the best to you too for this year mate.

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  2. A great finish the birding year on your patch, here's to 2013

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  3. Nice one Jason, some good birds on that list, Merlin is less than annual here :-)

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  4. Merlin would be a great tick for my patch Jase :-) All the best for this year - I hear you have man flu - hope you feel better soon mate !

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  5. Happy new year to you Jason. Love the header pic!

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  6. Happy New Year to you Jason! Great birds seen on your last Patch walk of 2012!

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  7. Cheers Pam...It was a great way to round off my patch year!

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