Who do you finch you are?

The Montpelier Station finch-fest continued today with a gorgeous male Bullfinch on the feeders. There was at least 1 Greenfinch among the Chaffinch flock. Plenty of Blackbirds (an influx in recent days) and 4 or 5 Collared Doves nearby.

Brambling

A Brambling was hanging around the feeders on the station this morning among 15 or so Chaffinches and about half a dozen House Sparrows.

I was amazed to see a flowering Lesser Celandine at Fairfield Road - by far the earliest I've ever seen.

Lesser Celandine

In nearby Fairlawn Road there was a Coal Tit and some Long-tailed Tits and a fly-over Chaffinch. At the top of St Andrews Road there were 4 Goldfinches, a Coal Tit and a Blackbird in the same small tree.

Goldfinch

A Grey Wagtail flew over near the Cheltenham Road arches and a Jay was near the Royal Mail office in Station Road.

At St Andrews Park a 'flock' of 9 Blackbirds was notable plus a few Goldfinches, a Chaffinch and a Greenfinch.

Hot Rats

At the station this morning the Chaffinch flock numbered an impressive 20 or so, with similar numbers of House Sparrows and half a dozen Starlings. Also a couple of Pied Wagtails overhead, 2 Dunnocks and 6 or 7 Long-tailed Tits. A Brown Rat was looking a bit intimidated by a Magpie beneath the feeders.

At Fairlawn Road another bunch of Long-tailed Tits accompanying some Blue and Great Tits were the only birds of note, while at the top of St Andrews Road a Coal Tit sang from the top of a tree.

Headless Long-tailed Tit

In St Andrews Park I had a chance to note 2 Herring Gulls and a Pied Wagtail before rain stopped play.


Herring Gull



Pied Wagtail

Christmas Cormorant

A Cormorant flew west over the station this morning. Other fly-overs included both Grey and Pied Wagtails. Nearby there were 8 Starlings, half a dozen Chaffinches, 6 or 7 House Sparrows, a Great Tit and a Grey Squirrel.

Female Chaffinch

Cormorant

At Fairlawn Road there was a pair of Blackcaps, 6 Goldfinches and 2 Greenfinches.

Female Blackcap

I'm still here!

Please forgive the lack of posts recently but I've been quite busy with work and trips to the BRI for physio, x-rays and hydrotherapy following my fractured arm. All going very well (and as regards hydrotherapy, swimmingly) so well done the NHS for really looking after me. On the days when I haven't been quite so busy, it's been raining. Typical, isn't it!

Happy Christmas and new year to my reader.

St Andrews Park

Highlights in the park this morning included a Coal Tit, 5 Greenfinches, a Chaffinch, several Goldfinches heard, a fly-over Jackdaw heard, at least 1 Jay, a couple of Pied Wagtails, 2 Dunnocks plus Long-tailed, Blue and Great Tits.

Station Starlings Hit Double Figures Shock

At least 10 Starlings at the station this morning along with a couple of Chaffinches and Goldfinches and the usual House Sparrows. Nearby at Fairlawn Road there was a party of Long-tailed, Great and Blue Tits and a Grey Squirrel. A Coal Tit was showing well in Balmoral Road.

Grey Squirrel

A Raven did 3 or 4 circuits of St Andrews Park, also a Pied Wagtail in the park.

Raven

Fox News

I must be a very light sleeper because once again I was woken up by a barking dog Fox last night. It continued on and off for 10 or 15 minutes as the Fox moved about.

Montpelier Station and Park

I'm a little disappointed that the colder weather hasn't brought in any new birds - the station was very quiet other than a couple of Chaffinches, a Robin and a singing Coal Tit together with a Grey Squirrel while the nearby park had a Blue Tit, a Blackbird, a Chaffinch and 2 Pied Wagtails.

St Andrews Park thrush thrash

Today and yesterday I've been trying to get good views and photographs of what is almost certainly a Song Thrush in the park. It is very flighty and easily spooked by dogs so it's all been a bit frustrating. If I'm right, this will be the first I've ever seen in the park. Watch this space! Also in the park was a Coal Tit, 2 Pied Wagtails, a Chaffinch and several Goldfinches among the common birds.

Wear the fox hat?

I was awakened in the small hours by a barking dog Fox outside the flat. It was obviously on the move, barking every 30 seconds or so as it made its way along the road.

Fieldfare over Fairlawn

A Fieldfare flew over Fairlawn Road this morning, also a Grey Squirrel,  Dunnock, Jay and fly-over Grey Wagtail nearby. The winter sunshine was strong enough to bring out a Green Shieldbug and some Smooth Sow-thistle was in flower near the bridge.

Dunnock

Smooth Sow-thistle

The male Blackcap was at the station frequenting the feeders along with the Chaffinch flock, a Greenfinch, several House Sparrows and 8 Starlings.

A party of Long-tailed Tits were feeding in Richmond Road.

Kingsdown Chiffchaff

A Chiffchaff calliing and showing well in a tree along Dove Street South this morning.

At the station today were the usual Chaffinches (including a nice male), a Blackbird, 5 Starlings, 10 House Sparrows, a Pied Wagtail, a Blue Tit and a Grey Squirrel. At Montpelier Park there was a party of Long-tailed Tits.