Date: 02/03/2018
Location: Newton St Loe Patch
Weather: Snow 3-6 Inches -3/4 Cold Wind
Species Highlights:
Greater Black Backed Gull, Lapwing, Redwing, Fieldfare, Siskin, Treecreeper, Buzzard, Blackcap, Bullfinch.
Observation:
As promised yesterday after our successful day window watching which ended on 23 species a walk around out patch, snow boots, hat and gloves on we crunched our way through the fresh snow and out through Bath Mill looking at all the abandoned cars on Pennyquick.
As soon as we left our feeders and the stacks of birds which had come to visit our seed which we have put out for them.
Bath Mill was full of Blackbirds, Redwing and the usual Garden birds, trying to find shelter/food.
Up over the Dog Walk and Seven Acre, the snow must have been a foot deep with 3-4 feet snow drifts on each side.
Fairly quiet from Seven Acre, and no Yellowhammers or Linnet were seen.
On the Village feeders, there were copious amounts of Fieldfare and Redwing getting the last of the berries.
Along Butterfly Alley, a fly-over of 18 Lapwing seen. The third day in a row, we've seen on Patch/Garden.
On the Waterfall, by Bottom Lake, a small flock of 20 Siskin feeding in the Alders. The Waterfall was only partially frozen, so was busy with Redwing, Dunnock, Wren, Robin and Grey Wagtail.
Bottom Lake, was mostly frozen, so only 2 Black-Headed Gulls, 3 Mallard, 1 Moorhen and Billy (the Mute Swan), unfortunately when we approached him, he wouldn't come over for food, we tried to chuck some in close to him, which he had a small amount, we are unsure whether he was trapped in the ice, we tried to throw some stones close to him, to free him, but the ice around him was slushy, very strange. Hope he manages to free him-self.
Top Lake, was half frozen, the Teal were in 1 group, but a drop and only 28 seen.
One of the fly-over Lapwing had landed to have a rest and a drink. Our first wader on the Lake!
Nothing else different on the Lake, with the usual residents present.
Loads of Redwing around the bases of each tree, where it was snow-free, catching what food they could.
No sign of the Hawfinch, although 2 Greenfinch feeding in the Yew Tree's.
Back along the College Drive, the wind picked up, and the freezing rain started. A few Meadow Pipits, Crow and Redwing were landing close to us along the Drive.
Back into the Village, the Fieldfare still feeding on the Feeder tree's.
We walked back via the Horse Fields and seen some large Gulls, after a look through the Binoculars and some record shots, it was in fact 2 Greater Black-Backed Gulls, which takes us to a total 95 Patch ticks!!
As the weather seemed to worsen, we walked back and didn't see much more, apart from a single Jay. As we crossed a very quiet Pennyquick, 3 Buzzards took off from above us by Newton Brook, flushing some Siskins, Goldfinch and Redwing.
Feeders still full to bursting back in the Garden.
Thanks For Looking!
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