Winter moves in as temperatures drop

Plantation Goldcrest

Common Gull on Pophills

Green Sandpiper

Long-tailed Tit

Redwing

Winter colours

Drake Pintail

Wigeon on ice

Late afternoon geese

Winter temperatures arrived at Salford Priors this week bringing a deep frost and ice to areas of the pits on various days.

Plenty of activity in the plantation as the tit flock that has been circulating is growing in size by the day. The Chiffchaff looks to have moved on but there are now large numbers of Goldcrests with the Long-tailed Tits. Midweek, I stood on the edge of the plantation and watched all the birds go about their morning business when I took the above photos.

On Sunday I noticed there were a growing flock of Chaffinch's on the north end of the plantation and also present were good numbers of Redwing.

Sightings on the main pit didn't really change throughout the week, the wildfowl numbers varied depending how close the local shoot had got the main pit. The drake Pintail was present midweek with three Wigeon but neither was present at weekend. Other sightings included a Green Sandpiper, Common Gull, seven Pochard, nice Shoveler, 40 Gadwall and four Snipe. 

At Upton Warren I met local birder from near by Alcester called Mark who informed me he had seen the roaming Barnacle Goose the previous Saturday on Pophills.  Many thanks to Mark, Chris & Paul who submitted sightings.