A Few 'Carp' Photos ...

...and not a fish in sight.

A small party (c8) of Crossbills are now a regular sighting within 500m of my house.

Long-tailed Duck

Druridge

Twite 

Cresswell Beach

Ringed Plover

A pair on the beach at Cresswell were checking out suitable breeding sites.

Chiffchaff

This bright, pale-legged bird was last seen by me early in January. Now it is again in the open and feeding non-stop. (Thanks to AG for pointing it out!)

2 Butterflies today 26/02/2021

Small Tortoiseshell  and another (which quickly disappeared over the hedge and out of sight) which was probably a Peacock.

I was half a mile from home, very tired and hungry when my phone rang. Great to hear from AC! He is still in lots of pain and is desperate to get out and about but he has had an awful year. He rang to let me know a Bufflehead had been reported at Cresswell. I was tempted to finish my walk and get in the car to go to Cresswell but I decided against and turned to walk there.

 

I was dreading seeing a major twitch in action but thankfully there were only a handful of people there and none on the causeway. I watched it for about 20 minutes and snapped some distant photos before heading home when the next birders arrived. I might head there first tomorrow to get some better photos and hopefully before the crowds arrive.

I wonder if this is the River Quoile bird. If it is Cheers Derek!

(See Bangor West Patchwork blog)

 

Mild ...

Great few days birding on the patch. Buzzard, Barn Owl and Sparrowhawk each morning. Good numbers of Dunlin moving around the bay. A large number of Geese.

Two flocks of Canada Geese, Two flocks of Pink-footed Geese. A few Greylags and a couple of strangers.

Think this is the Todd's Canada Goose which has been in the area for a few weeks. (Happy to be corrected.)

Robin

White-fronted Goose

Think this is the European (Russian type ... albifrons). 

Although very dark, it appears to have a pink bill. Again, happy to be corrected.

 

Shorely Not ...

A victim of the cold snap in Scandinavia?

Woodcock

There have been numerous reports of birds coming in off the sea. Obviously some don't make it. Predators and Scavengers make the most of the bounty.

The birding this morning was terrific. Over 1000 Fieldfare drifted South. The dunes and beach were alive with Meadow Pipits, Skylarks, Chaffinches, Reed Buntings, Twite, Linnets and Goldfinches. Even greater numbers than yesterday's walk. The weather wasn't so kind but made the walk more special. Then to come across a distant Shorelark on the beach, wow, can't top that!

Fortunately between the squally snow showers it was really pleasant.

Warm enough for some to have a quick bath ... brrrr!

Aaah ... refreshed, now bring on those worms!

Twite

Kingfisher

A two second blast of colour. It was off before I could zoom in on it.

Wowser!

I said it couldn't get better ... wrong. About a mile from my first sighting I heard a Skylark call. When I looked around two birds flew towards me from the farm. The Skylark went straight past and out of sight in the dunes. This beauty landed in front of me for a short time (right place, right time).

Grey Heron

Even the ponies added to the birding experience as pipits and Redwings fed around them. No doubt hoping for some 'flat' worms.

 

Freezing February

 

Well it was so good to get out for a decent walk today.

After days of freezing winds, rain and sleet, it was good to find the morning bright with only a light breeze. Two Buzzards were displaying, a Marsh Harrier flushed 400 Wigeon from the flooded field and the farm fields were full of small birds including a flock of 23 Meadow Pipits.

Redwings

Good numbers of these bonny thrushes. Some fluffed up because of the chill, but most making easy work of finding  worms on the thawing fields.

 

Lots of Pink-footed Geese and plenty of more common wildfowl made it a most enjoyable walk.