Another Patch Walk!

Date: 28th December - 1PM

Location:  Patch Walk - Newton Park Lake

Observation:  A belated Xmas walk, done our normal patch walk out to the lake, walking through Campsite and up to Dog Walk, mostly Blackbirds and Robin, Dunnock, Wren and Long-Tailed Tits. The Buzzard took off in nearby trees and flew off mewing. Heard a noise which we thought Squirrel hacking at first, but turned out to be Fieldfare feeding on Apples with small group of Blackbirds. A few more House Sparrow back (seemed to disappear for a short while). Onto the Lake a fairly big group of Redwing in orchard. Seen our first Nuthatch since  September, which was a nice surprise! 1 Little Owl on his normal tree and 1 Mistle Thrush on top lake being protective over his tree where the Redwing were trying to steal the last of his berries! On the wander home, seen a Bullfinch, Buzzard and Kestrel.

Just as we got home, talking about the Fox we heard screaming last night about 2am. Pointed to where the sound was coming from last night and there she was sunbathing! Seemed fine, as after a couple of minutes taking some pictures, went back into the bushes.

Weather:  Blue Sky, Cold, No Wind

Other Species: 2 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 1 Raven, 1 Little Owl, 1 Fieldfare, 30+ Redwing, 2 Greater-Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Mistle Thrush, 1 Bullfinch, 1 Nuthatch, 1 Jay - Of Note

Thanks For Looking !

Roundup Of 2014 !

Here's a quick round up of 2014, a superb year we've had for birding in our area and around the UK.

Firstly a big thank-you to both our frequent and first-time readers (who stumble across our site by accident!) your steady views, shares and comments, makes it worth while.

Our blog was started in April 2012 because of our resident Little Owls, to keep track of them, but 225 blog posts later and over 15,000 views, here we are!

We have had a total of 71 total species recorded (In our local 5 miles patch) and 34 new/rare birds between us during 2014, nationally - Not bad if we don't say so ourselves!

We will leave you with our 5 favourite birds from our patch in 2014:

KINGFISHER - Closest + probably the only time we've seen him

HOBBY - Came speeding straight across the field in pursuit 

 PEREGRINE FALCON - Seen him a few times now, this is the most recent sighting around 1000 yards from our house.

 LITTLE OWL (Of Course!) - The reason we started the blog and weekly walks out to see him, although seems a bit scarce this year.

WHEATEAR - An unusual and surprising sighting for our patch!

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Thanks Again + Here's To 2015 !!

Pre Christmas Wander

Date: 22/12/2014

Location: Full Patch Walk 

Observation: Walked the full patch today. Lots of work going on at Newton Mill campsite, new chalets going up instead of tents and caravans. Diggers, workmen and not many birds about. Headed on up to dog walk where a large group of Long Tailed Tits where feeding and making a right racket a Wren stopped for a shot then it returned to quiet.

Sparse Pickings A Pigeon !!

Grey Wagtail,Chaffinch and Pied together Pre-Christmas drinks ?

Nothing until village but only then collared doves and goldfinch. Out to lakes, Little Owl was in a different hole and different tree, Teal from 14 down to 5. More Building works at Newton Park College so not much about did see Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail and Chaffinch all sat together ?!  On up to Home Farm and a small flock of Redwing with 1 Fieldfare buzzed overhead across fields to 12o'clock lane a Roe Deer Sat unaware of me. 

Manged to sneak up on this,  Model unkown on byway.

A fly past Buzzard and Sparrowhawk And Home was in Veiw.

12 O'clock Byway

Weather: Grey Skies,11c some wind.

Other Species: Blackbird, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Goldcrest, Little Owl, Redwing, Fieldfare, Grey Heron, Teal.

Chew Valley Lake

Date: 16/12/2014
Location: Chew Valley Lake

Observation: Still a bit imoblized with my fingers but drove to chew valley today. Buzzards on quite a few telegraph poles on way down at least 5. On arriving the Great White Egret was off Stratford, and distant. Then drove round to Heron's Green just usual here with not much stirring so continued on round lake stopping at Woodford GND not seen but a large group of Canada Geese and loads and loads of Cormorants !! 

Some Merganser and a Red Breasted Merganser male were about.

On around to Picnic Site one, workmen on lake shore so back round to Herriotts Bridge where a Egyptian Goose showed up ! 

Also couple of Common Gulls mixed up with Black Headed Gulls.

.

Weather: Grey, Cloudy Skies, 8c 
Other Species: Buzzard, Teal, Great White Egret, Egyptian Geese, Common Gull, Merganser, Red Breasted Merganser.

 Thanks For Looking !