Sparrowhawk - Accipiter Nisus

Date spotted: 28th Feb '13

Location: Zones 1,2+5 - Newton Park Lake

Observation: Sparrowhawk seen flying around with group of Buzzards (maybe feeding together). The Little Owl that got attacked by the Buzzard a few weeks back (Go back a few blog posts for story) was seen feeding and looked perfectly fine! Was one lucky Owl!
Was also the first on the Lake there has been Little Grebe (1 Male, 1 Female) couldn't find on return journey, could have got spooked and flown off.

Weather: Cloudy, Warm, Partly Sunny

Other Species: Blue Tit, Great Tit, Robin, Sparrowhawk, Little Owl, Chaffinch, Wren, Mute Swan, Mallard, Coot, Moorhen, Tufted Duck, Teal, Little Grebe, Grey Wagtail, 

Slippery Shell!

Date spotted: 24th Feb 2013- 4PM

Location: Marine Lake - Weston Super Mare

Observation: 1st Winter Gulls practising to fish and feed for them-selves, first time I have seen gulls do this, I think this gull done very well at catching the shell!

Weather: Cloudy, Cold, Windy

Other Species: Herring Gull, Lesser Black-Backed Gull, Black-Headed Gull

 

Oystercatcher - Haematopus Ostralegus

Date spotted: 24th Feb - 4pm

Location: Weston-Super-Mare (Knightstone Island)

Observation: A group of 8 Oystercatchers we spotted were feeding amongst the seaweed, this Oystercatcher was rummaging in the seaweed and found a shell, which it carried around in its beak for a few minutes, almost showing off what it had found! It then hid the shell in the seaweed again and carried on feeding, Weird behaviour!

Weather: Cloudy, Almost Dark + Cold

Other Species: Oystercatcher, Black-Headed Gull, Rock Pipit, Lesser-Black-Backed Gull, Herring Gull

 

Pied-Billed Grebe - Podilymbus podiceps

Date spotted: 21st Feb 2013 - All Day

Location: Ham Wall - Shapwick Heath

Observation: Pair of Kingfishers (M+F) calling and fishing together, 17 yards away! Pied-Billed Grebe spotted diving in the far distance, but bad light and distance is a major problem, 400mm not enough! But great to see a new bird in the UK!

Weather: Cloudy, Brightening Up Later On, Windy and Cold

Other Species: Blue Tit, Great Tit, Crow, Chaffinch, Bullfinch, Mute Swan, Teal, Wigeon, Magpie, Little Grebe, Marsh Harrier, Kingfisher, Pied-Billed Grebe, Cormorant, Coot.

 

Bullfinch - Pyrrhula Pyrrhula

Date spotted: 6th Feb - 2013 - 3.30pm

Location: Quick bird count from the window!

Observation: First male Bullfinch ever on our feeders, seen around the area a few times but not in our garden, so great surprise!

Weather: Sun coming through clouds, Warm.

Other Species: Blue Tit, Great Tit, Chaffinch, Crow, Bullfinch, Long-Tailed Tit

 

Quick Bird Count

Date spotted: 6th Feb - 1.30pm

Location: Garden Bird Count

Observation: The normal birds but a Goldfinch on the sunflower hearts was a nice spot!

Weather: Blue Sky with some cloud, Warm.

Other Species: Blue Tit, Great Tit, Blackbird, Long-Tailed Tit, Chaffinch, Lesser-Black-Backed Gull, Goldfinch, Wood Pigeon, Robin