Sunday 28 February 2016

Montpelier Station

A flurry of activity near the feeders this morning. A male Blackcap, 10 Chaffinches, half a dozen House Sparrows, a Starling, a Wren and a Dunnock shared the space with a couple of lively Grey Squirrels.

Thursday 25 February 2016

Garden birds

Guy has emailed to say he still has the Brambling appearing in the garden from time to time and a Song Thrush has been singing near the railway, also a pair of Bullfinches very regularly on his sunflower heart feeder. 

Wednesday 24 February 2016

Singing Blackcap

A taste of spring this morning - a singing Blackcap at the station! Also a couple of Chaffinches near the feeders, a single Starling, a singing Great Tit and a Long-tailed Tit.

Tuesday 23 February 2016

Park and station

A quick visit this morning produced little of note other than a Robin and a couple of Collared Doves in the park and a few Long-tailed Tits at the station.
Collared Dove

Sunday 21 February 2016

St Andrews Park

Despite the wild wind and drizzle a few hardy souls turned up for this walk. There was a surprising amount of bird song despite the conditions and at least it was mild. The list in full:
Redwing - a count of 15 birds by one participant was very impressive
Starling - a mini-murmuration of 40 birds
Blackbird - a few
Dunnock - 1 or 2 heard
Blue Tit - seen by one of us
Great Tit - 1 by the bowling green
Long-tailed Tit - seen on 2 occasions
Coal Tit - heard and seen in a neighbouring garden
Chaffinch - just 2 or 3 seen
Goldfinch - several seen and heard
Greenfinch - 1 in full song
Carrion Crow - several around
Feral Pigeon - 1 or 2 near the play area
Woodpigeon - a few
Magpie - 2 or 3
Robin - a few seen and heard
Herring Gull - 1 or 2 drifting over
House Sparrow - just 1 male noted

Quite a bit of Frogspawn was in the pond.
Frogspawn

Friday 19 February 2016

Garden birds

Jim has sent me a report of the birds in his garden today. Apart from the usual, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Jay, Collared Dove, Long-tailed Tit, Blackcap, Robin, Woodpigeon, Magpie and Blackbird he had a Goldcrest in the garden this afternoon. A fine collection of birds, and Goldcrest is a very good sighting.
Blackcap (photo by Jim)

Jay (photo by Jim)

In St Andrews Park this afternoon a pair of Mistle Thrushes were flying to and from a tree near where they nested a couple of years ago. I wonder......Also a couple of Blackbirds and a flock of 15 or so Goldfinches of note.

Thursday 18 February 2016

St Pauls Cemetery

This afternoon in the cemetery I found a Hairy Shieldbug basking in the sunshine. Nearby a Blackbird was sifting through straw for food and some Goldfinches were singing.
Blackbird

Hairy Shieldbug

At the station this morning a Coal Tit was singing and a single Starling was flying around.
Starling

Wednesday 10 February 2016

Montpelier Station

It's been quiet the last two mornings at the station - yesterday a couple of Long-tailed Tits, a group of Chaffinches and a cat were the highlights, and today singing Wrens, Great Tits and Dunnocks plus the usual gang of Woodpigeons.
Woodpigeon

Dunnock


Friday 5 February 2016

Narroways

An hour around the reserve this morning before the rain brought proceedings to a close: 1 Grey Wagtail (brook), Wren showed well at Lynmouth Rd, Robin at community garden, 2 Blue Tits and a Great Tit near bench, Black-headed Gull over the hill (local rarity!) also Lesser Black-backed and Herring Gulls flying over, Greenfinch and Chaffinch over cutting, Jay at Simon's Grove.

In Fairlawn Road there was a Magpie and a Blue Tit.
Magpie

Blue Tit



Tuesday 2 February 2016

Jackdaws

Two Jackdaws flew over the station this morning. Nothing else of note I'm afraid.