The good Lord must have been listening - He sent me a Redpoll!
We had our first spring Meadow Pipit over north last week. In the sheep field, which now has sheep and lambs in it, the Little Owl has moved out - temporarily, until the sheep go, then he/she will be back. The eight Jackdaws that nest in the farmhouse chimneys use the field instead. However, the local head Crow takes exception to this at times and harries them into leaving. The Daws just make a lot of noisy fuss, return to the rooftop and bide their time until the coast is clear once more. The Magpie nest is finished but there is no sign of incubation yet as the pair can be seen loafing on/keeping a look-out from the hill. ['She' was sat atop the nest today] With the first flush of Hawthorn leaves, the Long-tailed Tits are busy prospecting and hoping to pick up a bit of wool from the field opposite. The Moorhen pair are proving elusive.
In the garden, most of the residents are singing and their lady friends are starting to get brood patches, though none I've seen has yet got a full blooded one apart from a Robin, today. Dunnocks are everywhere. The Blackcaps (at least 3) are still with us, scoffing the soaked sultanas and mealworms between bouts of singing and dancing. I have managed to pick up a couple of Denise's Siskins lately (National Park, 11 miles away) and also a stray Greenfinch (4CY) from John who lives at the other end of our (rather straggly) village. His garden faces a wood and open farmland, while I'm surrounded by large gardens and light industrial. John has just told me he's netted a Brambling from Norway and a host of Siskins coming to drink at his pond, so I'm definitely in the wrong place.
In the garden, most of the residents are singing and their lady friends are starting to get brood patches, though none I've seen has yet got a full blooded one apart from a Robin, today. Dunnocks are everywhere. The Blackcaps (at least 3) are still with us, scoffing the soaked sultanas and mealworms between bouts of singing and dancing. I have managed to pick up a couple of Denise's Siskins lately (National Park, 11 miles away) and also a stray Greenfinch (4CY) from John who lives at the other end of our (rather straggly) village. His garden faces a wood and open farmland, while I'm surrounded by large gardens and light industrial. John has just told me he's netted a Brambling from Norway and a host of Siskins coming to drink at his pond, so I'm definitely in the wrong place.
Just broken into another £196 's worth of rings! I hope my pension's going to go up in the Budget! Good job I don't need any nets just yet!
Plodding on regardless with a good day invariably followed by a rubbish on. Time to move the nets around. Won't be long now before the first Chiffs arrive.
Blue Tit 3 (1)
Great Tit 1 (1)
Long-tailed Tit (1)
Blackcap (2)
Wren (2) - both male, one not seen since last March
Blackbird 3 (4)
Song Thrush 1
Robin (6) - that's a full house!
Dunnock (3)
House Sparrow 1 (3)
Chaffinch 3 (3)
Greenfinch 1C
Goldfinch 13 (10)
Siskin 2 + 1C
Lesser Redpoll 1
Bullfinch (1)
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| God's gift |
Blue Tit 3 (1)
Great Tit 1 (1)
Long-tailed Tit (1)
Blackcap (2)
Wren (2) - both male, one not seen since last March
Blackbird 3 (4)
Song Thrush 1
Robin (6) - that's a full house!
Dunnock (3)
House Sparrow 1 (3)
Chaffinch 3 (3)
Greenfinch 1C
Goldfinch 13 (10)
Siskin 2 + 1C
Lesser Redpoll 1
Bullfinch (1)
27 new birds + 2 'local' Controls + (37 recaptures)
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| A bit different |
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