Fieldfare Flock

No usual Sunday walk this morning, but saw a flock of about sixty Fieldfare (my first of the winter) fly north over the house and then over to the woodland.

Winter Firsts

My last visit of the month proved to be a successful morning, coinciding with the first frost of the winter, and covering the usual route of Pit Tip, Mill Lakes and Bestwood Quarry. At dawn a female Green Woodpecker was in the western Pit Tip Plantation, and three Cormorant were seen flying high to the south over the Mill Lakes. A single juvenile Herring Gull went over Dawson's Corner to the south with a small flock of Black-headed Gull, and a male Pheasant was on the path between Orchard Corner and Dawson's Corner. Small numbers of Redwing were all around the park today, including Dawson's Corner.

At the Mill Lakes the main Siskin flock - about fifty birds - was around the Reedbed area today. The Shoveler pair were again present with another female or first winter at the far bank, along with a Kingfisher. An obvious visual migration of Woodpigeon had three consecutive parties of around a hundred flying south, high over the Picnic Area at 7:45am. Two more Cormorant were fishing off Tern Island. A single Common Snipe - my first of the winter - was sat on the southern point of Mud Island, and a got a few half-decent phonescope shots just before my friend Norman turned up. We had a walk down the near side of the lake and picked up three Little Grebe fishing together around the island close to the Willow Carr, and two female or first-winter male Pochard between Tern Island and the Dipping Ponds, before heading back.

Parting company with Norman at the entrance to Bestwood Quarry, I had a quick walk around, but most of the notable sights were around the entrance; except a female Sparrowhawk perched on a fence post that I failed to phonescope (by about half a second) as it flew off. Around the entrance, feeding in the hedgerows were plenty of Redwing, three Yellowhammer, Chaffich, Goldfinch, a group of about ten Greenfinch, and a single Goldcrest was showing well by the gate. As I was leaving, a male Kestrel flew from the Quarry over to Parkside Pasture, and the morning was finished off by a female Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming in a tree by the Hatton Close entrance. The cold weather has its advantages!

Four in a Row

Arrived at the Mill Lakes at first light this morning to pick out two Great Crested Grebe together at the southern end of the lake. I flushed a pair of Shoveler from right at the bank just south of the Peninsula and they flew off towards the far side of the lake. The group of Teal had risen in numbers to a dozen, and the males seemed to be past their eclipse plumage now, with five of the group being female or first winter males. I got a brief glipse of a Grey Wagtail on Mud Island whilst unsuccessfully search for Snipe, and the group of four Mute Swan signets posed for me, as I walked to the footbridge at the north end.


From the small peninsula on the far bank I caught up with the Shoveler again, and another female was with them. Several small flocks of Redwing flew over to the west around the Wild Flower Garden, and two Cormorant were now on Tern Island. At the Vehicle Bridge a Kingfisher was perched on a branch just downstream next to the Reedbed Boardwalk. It flew off downstream before I could get the scope on it. Back at Dawson's Corner, at least one Redwing was seen in a hedgerow - my first grounded bird one of the winter.

Redwings Heading West

Had a quick walk to the Mill Lakes and back via the Pit Tip before work this morning. At Dawson's Corner a Sparrowhawk flew past me along the paths whilst hunting, but otherwise it was fairly quiet. There were three Gadwall and seven or so Teal at the Mill Lakes, and small groups of Redwing were moving through to the west, including a group of 25-30 birds that I saw with Norman who was also out for the morning. Heading back onto the Pit Tip Top more small groups of Redwing were passing through to the west, fairly regularly, with about a hundred birds seen heading west throughout the morning. Small numbers of Meadow Pipit were still around, and Skylark too - with two singing males in the morning sun. Still no sign of any chats, so I guess they've moved on.

Pit Tip, Quick Trip

A quick trip onto the Pit Tip. Still a respectable number of Meadow Pipit around (11), and a late Chiffchaff calling along the edge of the woodland.

A Day in the Park

Spent a long day in the park, birding the Mill Lakes and Leen Pastures in the morning, volunteering through the day (with lunch at Khalsa Wood), then Bestwood Quarry, a walk up Lamin's Lane, and back onto the Pit Tip to finish off before dinner.

On the Pit Tip at dawn were the usual species, including Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Siskin, and a couple of small flyover Redwing groups. A female Sparrowhawk was on a fence post of the main Pit Tip Plantation between Dunvegan Gate and new pond, and flew off right past me and over to Rise Park. Heading around past Vincent's View, a characteristic Green Woodpecker was on one of the fence posts at the top of Farmer Fox's Cow Field.

The juvenile Mute Swan were still at the Mill Lakes, and two more Greylag Goose had joined the single resident bird. At least three Teal were on the lake, plus a Grey Heron, a Cormorant, and a Great Crested Grebe. There was a single male Common Pheasant sat on a fence in Leen Pastures, and a Willow Tit was heard calling along the Leen, near the south east corner of the first pasture. Heading back through Broad Valley Stables' Horse Paddock, it was the right time of year for the odd Pied Wagtail on passage, and I picked out six or seven - including two or three first winter birds - whilst being mobbed by a crowd of horses. Walking to the ranger's office, I noticed a pair of Lesser Redpoll in the tops of the trees along Main Drive, close to Khalsa Wood. I returned here at lunchtime to try and see some of the usual woodland species, but failed dismally.

After the volunteering session had finished I had a walk around Bestwood Quarry, which was pretty quiet at that time of the day. Another male Common Pheasant was again sat on a fence on the hillside, and a late Chiffchaff calling constantly on the hillside bend was the most notable bird. I walked back through the woodland and out onto Lamin's Lane seeing plenty more Pheasants, but no Partridges. In the distance, beyond the mast I caught sight of a couple of Common Buzzard soaring above the tree line. When I got the birds in the scope another appaeared, and I was enough to see the three birds together soaring and playing over the field next to Woodside Liveries - the highlight of my day. Further up the lane, four ro so Mistle Thrush were on the wires over one of the farmer's fields, and the regular group of Tree Sparrow were frequenting the feeder of the first house.