Song Thrush surprise

It's not often Monty is graced with the presence of a Song Thrush, but one was singing and showing well in Montpelier Park this morning. I've long given up hope that they'll breed anywhere near, but it's good to see one anyway. I'll upload a typically rubbish photo this evening. About 10 Chaffinches also were in the park - probably the same ones as frequent the station.

Talking of the station, a couple of Long-tailed Tits were feeding in the trees and just 4 Starlings were flying around.

Garden visitors

The female Blackcap was in the garden again this morning along with 3 Blackbirds, 2 Magpies, 2 Woodpigeons, a Robin and several Blue Tits. Nearby 4 Long-tailed Tits were feeding in trees along Richmond Road.

At the station a Pied Wagtail and at least 10 Greenfinches were notable. A Wren was singing in Montpelier Park.

Montpelier Station - birding capital of Bristol

At last some good birds at the station! A Great-spotted Woodpecker was the pick of the bunch - feeding high in the trees near the feeders before flying off towards the park - but a female Bullfinch on the feeders themselves was just as good to see. There were 2 Blackcaps around (a male and a female) and also a couple of Long-tailed Tits among Great and Blue Tits. A Sparrowhawk landed briefly in a tree before flying off to the consternation of the other birds, and a single Redwing posed for the camera. The finch flock numbered some 20 birds and there seemed more Greenfinches and Goldfinches than Chaffinches. Several House Sparrows were seen and a Coal Tit called.

I did my RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch this morning at St Andrews Park and the list is as follows: Blue Tit (8), Carrion Crow (5), Magpie (6), Woodpigeon (4), Goldfinch (4), Blackbird (4), Pied Wagtail (3), Coal Tit (1), Robin (5), Great Tit (3), Chaffinch (3), Jay (2), Collared Dove (4), Dunnock (1), Mistle Thrush (1 singing), Greenfinch (3), Goldcrest (2), Starling (1).

In the garden today there was a female Blackcap, 2 Dunnocks, a couple of Blue Tits, a Great Tit, a Long-tailed Tit, 3 Woodpigeons, 2 Magpies, a Robin and 2 Blackbirds.

Montpelier Station

A Pied Wagtail at the station this morning was just about the only bird of note - just a couple of Starlings and a few Chaffinches nearby. Quiet!

St Pauls Park

Two good birds in and around the park this morning - a Goldcrest which unashamedly flaunted itself by running along the top of the wall in full view (and no, I didn't have my camera) and a Mistle Thrush singing from the top of a tree in Portland Square. Also noted were Great and Blue Tits, a Coal Tit, a couple of singing Greenfinches, a Robin, a Blackbird and Collared Doves and Woodpigeons a-plenty.

Slightly Foxed revisited

A dog Fox was barking this morning at 7.30 outside the flat. The local Blackbird has been singing at dawn in recent days, including today. On a damp and drizzly morning birdwatching was difficult but a Greenfinch was singing at the top of Station Road.

Siskin to the rescue

Yet another potentially forgettable morning was rescued by a Siskin flying over Montpelier Park, but otherwise the Chaffinch flock at the station  (about 15 birds) was the main interest along with a couple of Goldfinches, 2 Robins, 2 Blackbirds, a Dunnock, 3 Starlings, several House Sparrows plus Great and Blue Tits.

Oh dear....

Monty is a bit of a wildlife-free zone at the moment. Today the sunshine brought out some Bluebottle flies at Fairlawn Road and St Andrews Road, but nothing more interesting in the invertebrate line. Long-tailed Tits were also noted at Fairlawn Road but otherwise there was absolutely nothing of note.

Wind

A wild and windy day made for poor birdwatching around the patch today, although a Blackcap was calling in St Andrews Park.

St Pauls Park

Dull and drizzly. Not much to write home about other than Great and Blue Tits, Chaffinches, Goldfinches, Robins, Collared Doves, Blackbirds and a couple of Herring Gulls.

Frustration

Not a good morning in that despite hearing the Bullfinch at the station again, I was unable to clap eyes on it. Lots of Chaffinches though, and a Coal Tit was calling again.

Bullfinch Bonanza!

I gave the station ten minutes of my valuable time this morning, concentrating on the feeders which had loads of finches and Starlings on them. I heard 2 Bullfinches, one of them actually singing  briefly, although they kept out of sight. It will be interesting to see if they stay into the spring - the station might have enough suitable habitat for nesting, who knows?

Nothing much in Montpelier Park other than a couple of Chaffinches and a briefly singing Coal Tit.

Jim has contacted me to say that yesterday he saw a Goldfinch in the garden for the first time. Also seen 7 Greenfinch, 2 Blackcaps (male and female) plus the usual Blue tit, Great tit, Magpie, Woodpigeon, Collared dove, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird and fly over Carrion crow. Jim has sent me these fab photos - many thanks.

St Andrews Park and beyond

A beautiful sunny morning in St Andrews Park brought out the birds and the watchers and we were treated to a taste of winter and the promise of spring. The full list is as follows:

Fieldfare - first spotted by Simon as it fed on the ground. Unusual to see one 'on the deck' in the park.
Redwing - 2 or 3 birds and one showing particularly well.
Blackcap - at least 1 over-wintering bird. A brief burst of almost full-blown song was unusual so early in the year.
Mistle Thrush - 2 birds seen and song heard.
Blackbird - several birds of both sexes.
Goldcrest - a couple of birds gave brief views near the toilets.
Long-tailed Tit - several birds showed well.
Coal Tit - 1 heard singing near the pond.
Blue Tit - small parties seen.
Great Tit - heard and seen well.
Robin - 2 or 3 heard and seen well.
House Sparrow - 1 or 2 birds.
Dunnock - 1 heard calling near the bowls club.
Goldfinch - many seen and heard singing.
Chaffinch - seen well and song heard.
Greenfinch - several birds seen well and song heard.
Carrion Crow - ubiquitous.
Magpie - ditto.
Woodpigeon - sevral birds.
Collared Dove - several birds seen.
Starling - several knocking around.

At the station the highlight was a Sparrowhawk drifting over towards the Cheltenham Road arches, plus the usual Starlings, Goldfinches, Greenfinches, Dunnock and House Sparrows. Nearby, a Pied Wagtail was trotting along Station Road.

One Redwing does not a winter make

At the station this morning there was a single Redwing and a good showing of finches (mainly Chaffinches), plus a Dunnock and half a dozen Starlings. On the wall of the station approach there were several plants of Annual Mercury in flower.

A Blackcap was calling at the junction of Wolferton and Hurlingham Road, and a Jay showed well at Fairlawn Road.

A Fox calling this evening outside the flat at 11.20.

St Pauls Park

A Cormorant flew over the park this morning heading towards the Temple Quay area and there was a mixed group of Great, Blue and Long-tailed Tits feeding in the trees and 2 or 3 Greenfinches and Goldfinches showing well.

At the aforementioned Temple Quay (and therefore sadly beyond the Wild Monty patch) a Chiffchaff was calling and showing well at lunchtime.

The quiet theme continues.....

Nothing new at the station this morning, the only notable birds being half a dozen Starlings and a calling Coal Tit among the usual birds. I predict the forthcoming cold snap will liven things up a bit on the bird front, so watch this space!

In a hurry.....

I overslept this morning and had to rush to work, noting a Grey Wagtail over Picton Street and half a dozen Goldfinches and a singing Greenfinch in St Pauls Park.

Business as usual

All very quiet in the last couple of days, with just a Coal Tit calling in Montpelier park yesterday and 10 Starlings at the station, while today the latter location produced 6 Goldfinches, a Dunnock and the resident Grey Squirrel.

Spring has sprung!

Some amazingly early Lesser Celandines in flower in Fairfield Road today reflecting the mild weather we've been having recently - last year I don't think I saw any until March (but will check the blog later to confirm).

The sunshine today brought out a Dock Leaf Bug Coreus marginata and a Greenbottle fly in Fairlawn Road where there was also a Jay.
                                      

In St Andrews Park there were a couple of Long-tailed Tits and a sub-singing Blackcap in the same place as yesterday along with a Goldfinch, some Chaffinches, a Collared Dove collecting nesting material, a Wren, a Dunnock and a Great Tit. Another sub-singing Blackcap was in Wolferton Road.

In the garden today there were 2 Robins, (presumably a pair as they tolerated each other well) and a singing Great Tit.

Pishing in the park

A bit of sagacious pishing coaxed a male Blackcap from the wildlife hedge in St Andrews Park this morning - it had been calling and even broke into brief sub-song. Nearby there were 2 Coal Tits in the park-keeper's compound along with a Chaffinch, a Blackbird, Great and Blue Tits and a Robin. A Jay and at least 1 Mistle Thrush were also seen along with a dozen or so Starlings and 2 Grey Squirrels. Several Snowdrops were in flower.

Another 2 Coal Tits showed well at the station.

Owls about that then...

A couple of intriguing reports of Tawny Owls on the patch in recent weeks - 1 heard in Narroways and 2 at St Andrews Park - they are early nesters but I doubt if they will stay to breed.

The usual stuff at the station this morning and the train was on time!

Montpelier Station

The wet and blustery conditions this morning reduced bird activity but as I waited for my train (which didn't turn up and I had to walk to work!) I was able to watch at least 15 Chaffinches (mostly female but 1 or 2 males among them) and a couple of Greenfinches around the feeders. Also a Grey Squirrel, a Robin and about 8 Starlings nearby.

St Pauls Park

A lot livelier than usual this morning with lots of common bird activity in the park. In no particular order there was a Wren, 3 Robins, a Dunnock, 6 Blackbirds (3 females and 3 males feeding closely together and rather quarrelsome) a couple of Collared Doves, 3 Woodpigeons, a Feral Pigeon which might be nesting in a recess in one of the buildings surrounding the park, 2 Great Tits, 3 Blue Tits, 6 Goldfinches, a Greenfinch, 8 Herring Gulls overhead, 2 Pied Wagtails and 3 Carrion Crows. 

Narroways

A Sparrowhawk over the hill, a Grey Wagtail over the community garden, a singing Greenfinch (my first singing bird of the year), a few Chaffinches plus Great and Blue Tits were the only birds of note at Narroways this morning.

Elsewhere, 6 Fieldfares flew SW over Richmond Road, but there was not much at St Andrews Park except for another Greenfinch singing briefly and and several Starlings.