Montpelier Station

Not an awful lot to report at the station feeders this morning other than a visiting Coal Tit, a calling Blackcap and a Pied Wagtail briefly sat in a tree.

Small Garden BIrdwatch

Short of time, I was unable to do a Big Garden Birdwatch in St Andrews Park and instead spent a bleak Sunday afternoon looking out of the window at a largely bird-free garden area (mostly other people's gardens). Totals as follows:
Woodpigeon 3
Blackbird 2
Lesser Black-backed Gull 3
Great Tit 1
Carrion Crow 2
Feral Pigeon 1
Magpie 2
Greenfinch 1

Skylarks

Skylarks passed overhead calling every few minutes this morning at Fairlawn Road, a movement obviously dictated by the changing weather. Whether these were birds from further east seeking snow-free areas in more westerly sites I don't know, but it was impressive to hear so many. Also nearby a calling Blackcap, 2 fly-over Jackdaws and a few Chaffinches and Greenfinches.

At the station a male Blackcap around the feeders plus a Coal Tit, a Long-tailed Tit and a Dunnock of note.

Blackcap and Coal Tit

Blackcap

A female type Blackcap at the station feeders this morning along with the usual Chaffinches, House Sparrows and Starlings. Also a Robin there and a fly-over Pied Wagtail.

Garden birds

Birds seen from my window today:  30+ Fieldfares, a male Blackcap, 2 Collared Doves, a pair of Blackbirds, a Dunnock (heard), a Robin, a couple of Blue and Great Tits, 2 Woodpigeons, 3 Magpies, a Pied Wagtail (perched on a tree), 3 Herring Gulls, a Carrion Crow and 7 Starlings.

Fieldfare invasion!

....well, perhaps that's a slight exaggeration, but a flock of 20 Fieldfares plus about 10 Redwings over Richmond Road this morning, then a few minutes later similar numbers briefly at the station (although I'm not ruling out the possibility of them being the same birds). Also 10 Starlings at the station along with about 20 Chaffinches, 4 Goldfinches and a couple of Blue and Great Tits. More Redwings calling in Montpelier Park but not seen.

There were 2 Blackbirds coming to the food I put out and 2 Woodpigeons in the garden.

Woodpigeon

Enough snow already

The snow kept me confined to barracks today. Not much to see from my window apart from 12 Fieldfares flying over the flat.

A Bullfinch was heard but not seen yesterday at the station.

I feel like a Fox machine

I nearly collided with a Fox halfway up Richmond Road this evening, passing within a foot of it!

Nothing new at the station this morning but the usual good numbers of Chaffinches and a few Greenfinches, while a Pied Wagtail flew over.

Quiet....

All rather quiet today - at the station a Coal Tit joined the regular Chaffinches and a few Greenfinches (including a fine male) on the feeders. There was a Jay at Fairlawn Road. A Grey Wagtail was on the brook at Ashley Vale as usual and a collection of birds on feeders at Lynmouth Road allotments included a Jay, a Long-tailed Tit, 2 Great Tits and half a dozen House Sparrows.

St Andrews Park

Little to report today apart from about 8 Greenfinches which is not a bad count for the park. Also a Jay and several Blackbirds. Hopefully the colder weather will bring in something interesting.

St Pauls Park

More common bird activity than on my previous visit a few days ago - a Blackbird, 4 Greenfinches, a couple of Goldfinches, a fly-over Chaffinch, a Dunnock, a Robin, a Collared Dove or two, a couple of Woodpigeons, 2 Herring Gulls a single Starling on the church plus Blue and Great Tits calling. There were also 2 Grey Squirrels chasing each other.

Woodlouse

A Woodlouse sp. was on the front step this morning - I rescued it and transferred it to the garden.

No change to the birds at the station, mainly Chaffinches. A Grey Squirrel was hogging the nuts.

St Pauls Park

Just a quick circuit on the way to work produced very little of note other than half a dozen Goldfinches, a Blue Tit or two, 5 Magpies on the church tower and a few Woodpigeons flying over. Also a  Grey Squirrel.

While shepherds watched their Fox by night

A Fox ran across the road near Armada Place, Kingsdown this afternoon at 5.30, disappearing into a small hole in some hoardings.

Bullfinches again

 The pair of Bullfinches were still in the station and allotment garden area this morning along with several Goldfinches and the usual Chaffinches. Nearby a Blackbird was in full song, albeit briefly, in spring-like conditions.

Male Bullfinch

 At Fairlawn Road a Coal Tit was singing and there were also 3 Goldfinches, 2 Great Tits and a few Chaffinches in the trees. White Deadnettle was in flower along the verge.

Great Tit

White Deadnettle

Take me to your feeder

The feeders at the station produced a pair of Bullfinches this morning plus a female type Blackcap. Other birds in and around the feeders included 2 Greenfinches, 15 Chaffinches, a Goldfinch, 2 Starlings, a Great Tit and half a dozen House Sparrows. Two Grey Squirrels were also in attendance and a Pied Wagtail flew over. A dog Fox was barking regularly from the direction of the TV mast - I don't think I've ever heard one so late in the day before.

The worst ever photo of a female Bullfinch

Male Chaffinch