Blackcap!

Finally got some shots of the male Blackcap this morning on my neighbour's feeders.

Had a quick visit to St Andrews Park at lunchtime - Black-headed Gull coming into summer plumage was a highlight, also Long-tailed and Blue Tits, a few Blackbirds, a couple of Redwings and several Goldfinches of note.

Black-headed Gull

Blue Tit

Goldfinch

Back in Montpelier, there was an almost-in-flower Lesser Celandine at the top of St Andrews Road!

Narroways!

A productive circuit of the nature reserve this morning, the highlight being an overwintering Chiffchaff at Simon's Grove - it's the first one I've seen all winter. Also 2 Grey Wagtails (one at the brook, another at Boiling Wells, a singing Song Thrush and Dunnock, half a dozen Long-tailed Tits along with Great and Blue Tits, a gang of House Sparrows, a few Goldfinches, a fly-over Jackdaw, a female Chaffinch, a fly-over Raven, several Blackbirds, a calling Wren and lots of singing Robins.

Chiffchaff

Grey Wagtail

Long-tailed Tit

Dunnock

Blue Tit

A Grey Squirrel seemed to be occupying a nestbox and several Primroses were in flower.

Grey Squirrel

Primroses

St Andrews Park!

A quick stroll around the park this lunchtime produced a few Redwings, lots of Goldfinches, Blue Tits, 7 Starlings, several Blackbirds and a rather imperious cat!

Redwing

Cat

Blackbird

Back in Montpelier, a Coal Tit was singing in the park (now why couldn't it have been singing in yesterday's Big Garden Birdwatch?) and at the station the feeders were dominated by Feral Pigeons but there were also several Chaffinches and a Blue Tit and Starling.

Female Chaffinch

Feral Pigeons

RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch!

I did this year's Big Garden Birdwatch in Montpelier Park once again - the results were:
Magpie 7
Robin 3
Woodpigeon 12
Blackbird 3
Collared Dove 5
Great Tit 1
Pied Wagtail 2
Blue Tit 2
Carrion Crow 3
Chaffinch 1
Wren 1

Garden birds!

A male Blackcap was in the garden this morning, my first of the year. Also no less than 4 Blackbirds plus a couple of Magpies, one on my neighbour's feeder!

From the Severn Beach train this morning I saw a Raven on the St Werburghs climbing centre tower. They must be thinking about nesting soon.

Montpelier Park!

A quick wander round the park revealed Great and Blue Tits and a singing Coal Tit, a Jay, 2 Robins and 3 Collared Doves. Nearby at the station were more Robins, a Starling and a singing Dunnock.

Out-of-focus Collared Dove

 In the flat there was a Jumping Spider Pseudeuophrys lanigera. Very cute.

Pseudeuophrys lanigera

Sparrowhawk!

A Sparrowhawk drifted over Montpelier this morning, seen from the station. I got out my camera and produced a masterpiece of wildlife photography! Also a couple of Blue Tits nearby.

Blue Tit

Sparrowhawk

Montpelier Park!

As I entered the park this morning I was greeted with the song of a Coal Tit. There was plenty of activity among the birds, with Blue and Great Tits, a couple of Goldfinches, a Chaffinch, 3 Woodpigeons and a singing Robin. A Grey Squirrel was sat in a tree.

Grey Squirrel

Woodpigeon

 At the top of Station Road a Goldcrest showed well and then flew towards the station where it showed well again, but was too quick for my camera. A Wren sat on a branch and sang and a couple of Collared Doves were chasing each other.

Wren

St Andrews Park!

In the park this morning were several Redwings, a couple of Robins, a Jay, 4 Herring Gulls, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, a Black-headed Gull, a singing Coal Tit and several Goldfinches and Starlings. A Pied Wagtail was just outside the park. I had a look at the dead wood habitat and found a Millipede which is a Cylindroiulus species, possibly C. britannicus.

Blue Tit at St Andrews Road, Montpelier

Goldfinch

Redwing

Herring Gull

Jay

Cylindroiulus

Starling

In Montpelier there was a party of Blue and Long-tailed Tits at the top of St Andrews Road along with a couple of Redwings.

Montpelier Station!

At the station sand nearby park this morning were a few Long-tailed and Blue Tits, 3 Chaffinches, a Goldfinch, 3 Blackbirds, several Collared Doves and House Sparrows and a singing Robin.