20 Minute Birdwatch

I was determined to squeeze some birding in this week, even though it was back to school. I managed to get 20 minutes in the hide, and then from my bedroom window, before it got too dark and foggy. It's amazing how much you can see and enjoy in such a short amount of time.

I counted about 35 Starlings, the most I have ever had in the garden. I put some meal worms, suet pellets and mixed seed out on the bird table, which attracted loads of bird including: Chaffinches, joined by a Brambling (a first for the garden), plenty of House Sparrows, Goldfinches, Jackdaws, Magpies, Robin, Collared Doves, Wood Pigeons, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Coal Tits and a single Reed Bunting. The Jackdaws were once again feeding off a seed feeder in my next doors neighbours garden.  They must have been watching and learning from the Sparrows.

A Blue Tit has been sussing a next box out for the Spring/Summer to nest in. I am just hoping it will nest, since I have never had a Blue Tit nesting before (apart from once, when it nested for a while then suddenly stopped nesting).  I also need to get by nest box with the camera inside set up again soon.

The Tits and Goldfinches are loving the sunflower heart feeder; they are on it every MINUTE!!!!!!!!!!!! And they are squabbling quite a bit even though there is plenty of food.

They do fight for spaces on the feeder, so there is normally only three at once, any more and there would probably be a fight. Even the Chaffinches were trying to feed from the sunflower feeder, but they kept failing. They were trying to hover like Humming Birds and grab a seed. I am going to try and video them doing this at the weekend.

There's a particular bird of prey I have not seen it the field for ages;..................... THE RETURN OF THE BUZZARD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was great to have him back, but no sign of the rest of them.

The House Sparrows much preferred the bird table than the tray on the back fence.  Maybe they didn't like being on the edge of a big open field, especially with a big raptor in it!

This juvenile Blackbird was enjoying the food scraps scattered across the floor by the messy Starlings. 

This male Chaffinch unfortunately has bumble foot, which occurs quite commonly on Chaffinches. He visits quite often though and seems to be doing okay.

So that 20 minutes should keep me going until the weekend.

Smeeeeeeeeeewww!

It was my last day off before school starts again, so I had a first time visit to Moore Nature Reserve. Bird wise  I did quite well, as I saw a female Smew the second for me this Winter. The first one I saw was on a pool a short walk from home.

The female Smew is pretty, however for me nothing can beat the black and white of the male birds.

A group of birds were having an important meeting on the island, and I am sure you would guess the Heron was  in charge.

As we were going back to the car for a drink, I spotted a Tree Creeper creeping up an Oak tree right beside us.

My favourite picture of the day was this astonishing Robin who was singing it's heart in a small Hawthorn.

The birds were really active at the feeding station today. We saw Blue Tits, Great Tits, Long Tailed Tits, Nuthatch, Siskins, Chaffinch, Reed Buntings and a Great Spotted Woodpecker. I also met two friendly people one called Mike, thank you very much for all your information.

My favorite species of woodpecker (in the UK) is the Great Spotted Woodpecker Woodpecker. This one kept feeding in the nut cage feeder, when he could reach the food.

Since we were by a tip there were hundreds of gulls and in the past  some quite rare ones have been spotted. We mainly saw Black Headed Gulls like the one causing a splash below.

The usual Coots were everywhere, literally everywhere.

So that is an end to my brilliant Christmas holidays. They have been epic!

Our World Tuesday

Wild Bird Wednesday

Sparrowhawk Vs Carrion Crow

We had another great trip to Frodsham Marsh and I saw my first Sparrowhawk of 2013.

The Carrion Crows were mobbing the Sparrowhawk and seemed really annoyed with the it, so it didn't stay around for long.

A Bullfinch and a Little Grebe were another two new birds I have seen at Frodsham Marsh. It was also amazing to see a flock of 800 Lapwing doing aerobatics.

Back to school next week, but time to squeeze in one more day of birding. 

Willow Tit - A Day With The Scouse Ringer

Today I had one of the best days I have ever had, in fact it was even more enjoyable than the bird fair last year. As soon I met Peter, Pete and Daniel (one of his trainees) I could already tell the day was going to be great. We caught quite a bit considering the windy weather. The first few we had out of the nets were a 

Lesser Redpoll and a Brambling, closely followed by a few Chaffinch and Blue Tits

And then when we got back to the area where we had set the ringing table up, I looked inside a bag and saw a Willow Tit, a first for me so you wouldn't be surprised that I couldn't wait until we could see it up close.

As soon as it was passed to me, all I was thinking about was about how lucky I was, and how amazing it was.

The only bird I actually put a ring on was a Willow Tit (since it was my first session)  however it was worth it, what an amazing bird! It took a size A ring.

After the Willow Tit, we soon went back to check the other nets, and boy we had a lot of Blue Tits. I ended up reading out the re-trap rings. All the birds we caught today, had rings or were about to, and so I guessed all the ring letters and got them all right (after a bit of research from the past few weeks).

More Blue Tits. Here you can see me reading out the code on the ring.

This Great Tit is an 6 adult. Now you can tell this because if you look on the outer bits of the wing you can see they are all a lovely blue colour. However if it had greenish feathers it would be a 5 juvenile.

I would of thought the Robin we caught would be aggressive and agitated , but whilst it was in my hands it was really calm.

As you can see Peter's dad Pete loves to hold birds.

Today's birds:

Robin

Blue Tit 

Great Tit

Long Tailed Tit

Willow Tit

Blackbird

Chaffinch

Lesser Redpoll

Brambling

Goldfinch

Greenfinch

And of course a big thanks to Peter and Pete for letting me join them. I really hope I can come again soon.

Back to the Bittern

After I went shopping to get some warm clothes and equipment for bird watching, I visited Marbury Park to see the murmuration of Starlings or in other words a whisper of Starlings as Ryan Mottram keeps reminding me. However, I saw something just as good whilst I was waiting, a Bittern; perched on top of a reed, one of the best views I have ever got. A lady sitting next to me spotted it and then I spotted it again when it had climbed on top of the reeds. It was getting dark and misty, so the pictures are just for my own record really.

I was really lucky to see to see it so close, probably a once in a life time experience, and I wouldn't of seen it if it wasn't for the lovely lady who let me look through her scope. Whilst I was there I met some really nice people called Bill and Ruth, they were really helpful and friendly, Bill had even run into my blog before! Thank you Bill and Ruth, I hope I meet you again some time. 

The last woodland birds of the day were the lovely Long Tailed Tits; all you could here was the drum rolling call, they were everywhere.

Another fabulous display of Starlings, however this time when they were in the air and reeds they were much noisier. I am hoping to video them later in the week, so more about them another time.

Wish me luck, since tomorrow I have been invited to go for a ringing trial.  I have been busy learning ring sizes on the BTO App tonight.

A Great End to 2012 at Frodsham Marsh

I had a visit to a new reserve today called Parkgate, there wasn't much there since the tide was out; however there were a few Curlew, Teal, a Deceit of Lapwing joined by 2 Black Tailed Godwits, a few Mallards and a solitary Redshank. I plan to visit here a lot more in the New Year, especially during the high tides when the raptors go hunting.

We soon moved on to Frodsham Marsh (after enjoying our picnic), however we had to call back home, as dad had forgotten the camera.

When we eventually got to the Marshes we were joined by 4 species of wader; Lapwing, Golden Plover (a first for me), Redshank and a few Curlews; duck wise there were 2 Pintail, Teal, Mallard and a couple of Pochard.

We kept seeing Cormorants flying over the car quite low, and then when we looked into No.6 tank we found out where they had gone.

My favorite duck species were out today, this male Teal was rather close to the bank. 

This Buzzard was looking a bit confused in which way to go. 

This Kestrel was doing quite well to defend it's territory from this Buzzard who was at least 5 times bigger.

Raptors were everywhere today, especially Buzzards, they were everywhere you looked!!!!!!!!! 

We met a local farmer on the track who said that he had been clearing a ditch so all the flood water from the fields would run in to it. He could then put the cattle back in the fields, because he didn't have enough food stored up for winter. 

I spotted a pair of active Stone Chats perched on a dead thistle. I think the male are one of the most colorful birds. 

It was getting quite dark so I couldn't get any more bright pictures, but I did like this Grey Heron flying home.

Well that's it for 2012, it's really been a brilliant year.

I hope you all have great 2013 full of birds and nature!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Our World Tuesday

Wild Bird Wednesday

Meeting Sharon & Gary at RSPB Burton Mere

I was really looking forward to my visit to Burton Mere today, not just because of the bird life, but also to see Sharon and Gary for the first time.

In the past I am sure you have seen a picture of the three ducks that Sharon has painted for me, so today I met up with Sharon and Gary to do a bit of bird watching and to collect my painting. Thank you ever so much for the fantastic painting Sharon, I would love to meet up in the New Year some time with you both again.

As you can see, it is a brilliant painting; in fact, from my point of view it is as good as any other professional painting. 

The pool that you can see from reception was teeming with birds, however at the second hide there wasn't so many.

I think I am now seeing more Chaffinches than House Sparrows, they are pretty much everywhere you look!!

I prefer to get birds in trees so it looks natural, however with Goldfinches I just can't resist taking photos, especially when they are staring right at the camera.

 I kept trying to get good pictures of Nuthatches; me and Gary were having a little competition to see who could get the best photo, I think I did quite well, but Gary won by far.  In fact I have just seen Gary's Nuthatch pictures on his blog from today and they are amazing.

This is my brother Harley's Coot picture. I thought it was quite good, since I think it was his first time with the camera, so please give him a bit of praise.

In the afternoon we went to Frodsham Marshes, but more about some fabulous sightings there tomorrow!