Siberian Jay, Kiruna, Lapland, Sweden,
January 05
Sunday, January 29, 2006
Buzzards Galore !
Raptor Triangle - Shuttleworth, and ... Gamlingay Pond.
January 29th 2006
Morning spent looking for raptors at two local watchpoints, several Buzzards sat waiting for the warmth (!) of the January sunshine - strong NE wind as yesterday keeping the temperature down. At 1200hrs birds began appearing - displaying Sparrowhawks and Buzzards.
Buzzard count reached 15 birds at one time at one location and 11 at the other (different birds) - so total easily in excess of 30 individuals. Also Kestrel and a Peregrine (different location from yesterday).
Afternoon visit to a small hidden pond near Gamlingay (Cambs) produced a superb hunting Short-eared Owl (my first site record).
January 29th 2006
Morning spent looking for raptors at two local watchpoints, several Buzzards sat waiting for the warmth (!) of the January sunshine - strong NE wind as yesterday keeping the temperature down. At 1200hrs birds began appearing - displaying Sparrowhawks and Buzzards.
Buzzard count reached 15 birds at one time at one location and 11 at the other (different birds) - so total easily in excess of 30 individuals. Also Kestrel and a Peregrine (different location from yesterday).
Afternoon visit to a small hidden pond near Gamlingay (Cambs) produced a superb hunting Short-eared Owl (my first site record).
Saturday, January 28, 2006
Biting North Wind
Willington GP January 28th 2006
Boy it was cold today ! - Usual fodder, good duck numbers - Wigeon 325, Teal 272 on main lake and fishing pit. Dunlin on small pool on dovecote track at dusk, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker calling distantly.
Cut some willow whips to be transplanted at Buckton, E Yorkshire - fast growing migrant bird cover !
Peregrine on BT Tower roof facing into the North wind - hard as nails
Sunday, January 22, 2006
2005 The Buckton ringing year that was...
2 Yellow-browed Warblers 16/10/05 Barred Warbler 6/9/05
Buckton, East Yorkshire,
Ringing totals 2005
899 birds ringed
Kestrel1, Woodcock1, Meadow Pipits2, Wren8, Dunnock17, Robin17, Redstart2, Blackbird93, Song Thrush21, Redwing68, Sedge Warbler1, Barred Warbler1, Whitethroat3, Blackcap13, Garden Warbler3, Yellow-browed Warbler4, Chiffchaff3, Siberian Chiffchaff1, Willow Warbler2, Goldcrest561, Pied Flycatcher4, Blue Tit4, Great Tit4, House Sparrow1, Tree Sparrow1, Chaffinch1, Brambling 21, Greenfinch3, Goldfinch11, Linnet7, Redpoll2, Meally Redpoll1, Yellowhammer3, Reed Bunting12.
Controlled a Goldcrest on 15th October from E Sweden ringed Sept 05 - more details to follow.
Why you got tights on ?
Leeds United 3 Sheffield Wednesday 0
January 21st 2006
Owls play well for 65 minutes, have a certain goal ignored (ball crossed line) and Leeds hit us cold with a goal - we then collapse. Highlight was Leeds (and ex Sheffield United) player Shaun Derry who wore tights with his shorts over the top - eliciting 30 minutes of "Why you got tights on, why you got tights on" from the fantastic wednesday following. Leeds ground is a dump with the Ken Bates policy of expensive entrance fees on show for all to see - the main home stand being only half full with several thousand empty seats.
January 21st 2006
Owls play well for 65 minutes, have a certain goal ignored (ball crossed line) and Leeds hit us cold with a goal - we then collapse. Highlight was Leeds (and ex Sheffield United) player Shaun Derry who wore tights with his shorts over the top - eliciting 30 minutes of "Why you got tights on, why you got tights on" from the fantastic wednesday following. Leeds ground is a dump with the Ken Bates policy of expensive entrance fees on show for all to see - the main home stand being only half full with several thousand empty seats.
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
Garden is buzzing with birds
Sunday 15th January 2006The garden was alive with birds this morning, over 35 Yellowhammers coming to the seed, up to 10 Blackbirds feeding on the apples and numerous tits and finches.
Now filling up 7 feeders on an almost daily basis and getting through 25kg of mixed corn per week ! - i think the local Badgers are also eating it at night.
Had 8 colour ringed Yellowhammers visiting the garden this week from my three year study that finished last winter with over 300 birds colour ringed during that time period.
Owls hunt the Foxes !
Saturday 14th January
Sheffield Wednesday 2 Leicester City1
Wednesday win with a "Brunt Buster" to go three games and three wins !
25,000 fans see the owls come from behind to record their third successive win, Chris Brunt scores a scorching 25yard belter to equalise before captain Coughlan heads the winner and Wednesday up the table. Leeds away next week - come on you blue and white wizzards !
Sunday, January 08, 2006
Local Bedfordshire birding in dismal weather
January 8th 2006
Spent the afternoon collecting a few local birds and doing a short "reccie" for sites that could hold Hawfinch - will try these later in the week.
Found an apple tree full of fruit so collected a carrier bag for the thrushes in the garden at home.
First stop off at Cainhoe Pit, Shefford where the Egyptian Geese was found in an arable field - feeding all by itself and looking rather sodden and with an obvious limp. Poor photos in terrible light.
Next stop at Elstow Pits near Bedford - the adult Ferruginous Duck was found quickly, feeding in the margin of the lake reedbed with Tufted Ducks and Pochards - fourth winter i have seen this bird at this location. When this site has been frozen i have often hoped to find it at Willington GP my local patch - only some 5 miles away.
Onto Stewartby Roost - largely just small gulls present although all really close, ad Yellow-legged Gull the highlight.
Finally, Brogborough Lake, after spending 40 minutes in the freezing rain, a 15 second glimpse of a Bittern in flight and then perched on the top stems of reed like a ballancing ballerina ended the day in some style, mmm.........
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