My first patch Skylark of the year was singing high above the Pit Tip Top at dawn; the last I saw was back in October, but I haven't watched the Pit Tip so well over winter. A male Kestrel was hunting at Dawson's Corner, and my usual path was closed due to the little wooden bridge being missing. My quick detour also produced a female Kestrel hunting nearby, so hopefully they're a pair. No sign of any Redwing around here today though... possibly due to my detour.
Arriving at the Mill Lakes it began to rain. Not too heavily, but enough of a shower to justify putting the hood up and bins away, preventing me from seeing anything. It didn't last long, and as I walked around the lake I caught up with an old visitor. A single winter male Ruddy Duck appeared to be the same bird I saw last year... still "attached" to a female Pochard, and adding another year tick. A Grey Heron flew in and settled at the far side of the lake, and a Song Thrush was singing away in a nearby tree.
On the Peninsula I could make out at least four Snipe on the Mud Island at the north end of the lake, which was almost submerged with the recent rain. A reasonably large weir-like water flow was coming in to the lake on the far side too. Before leaving the Peninsula I caught site of a few Lesser Redpoll in the surrounding trees, and as I walked on to the north end of the lake more were seen in a large finch flock (c.60) consisting mainly of Goldfinch, and with a single Bullfinch.
I headed up to the Leen Pastures to see a single Willow Tit on the almost-empty feeder and five Jay were screeching together in a nearby tree. After standing still, watching the feeders for a few minutes a Long-tailed Tit landed in a hedge just two feet away from my face - great views! A Great Spotted Woodpecker came to the feeder for some peanuts, as did one or two Grey Squirrel - the first time I've seen them in this area.
Left and right eye views of the Leen Pastures
The Railway Line got me a patch tick in the form of two Grey Partridge, and the Golf Course on the other side held three Meadow Pipit. From the bridge on my way back, I got my first Kingfisher of the year as it darted downstream and then out over the field to get to the lake. Since it usually flies straight under the bridge I can only assume it took a detour to avoid passing underneath me!
The Railway Line [disused] and the Golf Course [taken Nov 2006]
Before leaving, I had another attempt at filming the Common Snipe, but at that distance they're just too well hidden to be anything other than moving blobs. I did manage to get a single Great Crested Grebe and Little Grebe, which had proved more difficult to locate than usual. Another Grey Heron had joined the first and there was no sign of the Ruddy Duck.
I took an alternative route home to try and get some easy woodland birds for the list. I walked up through the houses and cut through to Broadvalley Stables seeing another Skylark, again up high singing. As I reached the Dell's Gate on Main Drive the heavy rain began, thus ensuring I saw nothing new before reaching home. I still managed to record 44 species, breaking my previous record by one - all thanks to those Feral Pigeon around the winding house!
