Tuesday 19 January 2016

Patch year ticks steadily build

 Green Sandpipers
 Chiffchaff
 Lapwing
 Feeding station
 Early interest
Fallow Deer stags
Three stags & a hind
Marsh Tit & Goldcest
Red-legged Partridge
Brambling
Distant Common Gull

Being under my normal strength visits to the pits have been very limited. Paul and I have set a feeding station up for some added interest and it will be interesting if it proves as successful as the one at Hilliers.

For a change we walked the field to the east of pits where we found six Green Sandpipers feeding at the flash. Further along we found a wintering Chiffchaff, Treecreeper and Bullfinch. After passing under the bridge a male Peregrine was on the look out for a late lunch whilst the dry central lagoon contained a single Jack Snipe.

I stopped in at Netherstead Farm, Morton Bagot for a very short walk as I'd only been to the main flash before. Reaching the farm feeders it was good to see them very busy with a nice selection including Great Tit, Blue Tit, Greenfinch, House Sparrow and a single Marsh Tit. As I walked down the path towards the paddocks I heard a Brambling calling which I was able to locate. A Sparrowhawk flew straight across in front on me sending everything diving for cover and I was unable to see if more than one bird was present. I did however record three Lesser Redpolls, four Common Buzzards, a flock of Redwing, Linnets, two Pied Wagtail and two Raven above a hugh flock of corvids.

Highlighted sightings from the weekend care of Jon & Paul included a Common Gull, three Jack Snipe, 195 Greylag, Jay, 135 Lapwing, two Pochard, three Shoveler and three Green Sandpipers.

Patch challenge year list has moved to 72 species (75 points) . Still need a Nuthatch !

3 comments:

  1. Hi Neil, Pleased to see you are back in the field. Great Brambling shot. If you get to Netherstead again, try walking down the track to the crop field. That's where all the Redpolls are, c 60 on Sunday.

    Richard (Morton Bagot)

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  2. Thanks Richard. Still off colour but doctor encouraged short walks. Would you have any old photos of Salford Priors by any chance from when you used to visit there. That's a great counts of Redpolls. None at pits this year to date.

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  3. Sorry Neil, my old visits were in my pre-camera days. The Redpoll count hit 105 yesterday (Thursday).

    Richard

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