Narroways and St Andrews Park!

A rather unproductive slog round Narroways Nature Reserve this morning with a fly-over Jackdaw the only bird of note. Raven sat on nest, Song Thrush singing again at Boiling Wells, 4 different Jays along ash wood and a singing Coal Tit near the brook.

I didn't fare much better at St Andrews Park with just a few Starlings, Blackbirds, Goldfinches and Blue Tits of note. Some Frogspawn in the pond (not sure if it was pre-last week's freeze or 'new') and a couple of Grey Squirrels frolicking in the children's play area. 

Blue Tit

Frogspawn

Grey Squirrel

Jackdaws and Blackcaps!

Didn't have too much time to watch any wildlife this morning but a Jackdaw flew over the station and a male Blackcap appeared briefly in the Buddleia near the footbridge.

Drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker!

In Montpelier Park this morning a Great Spotted Woodpecker was calling then drumming. Although these attractive birds are regularly seen in and around Montpelier this is the first time I've heard one drumming. As drumming is the equivalent of singing in other birds and therefore an advertisement for a mate, there's a good chance they might nest in the park if a suitable female turns up! Also a Jay and a Great Tit in the park. Nearby in Station Road there was a Goldfinch and another Great Tit feeding in the birches and a couple of Chaffinches were near the feeders on the station.

Narroways!

A couple of hours on Narroways this morning produced 2 Ravens at the nest - one looks like it's sitting on eggs! Also a Great Spotted Woodpecker flew calling over the cutting from the ash wood towards the orchard. At Boiling Wells a singing Song Thrush and Greenfinch plus a courting pair of Dunnocks. Near the Ashley Hill end of the stony path there was a party of 2 Great Tits, 2 Blue Tits and 5 Long-tailed Tits. Plenty of Robins around. A pair of Jays in the Ash Wood. On Steve's reptile mats there were a couple of displaying Sepsid flies (also called Ensign flies - they are fond of human and animal waste!) but sadly no lizards today.

Robin

Raven

Raven on nest

Sepsid flies

In Montpelier I was very pleased to see my first hoverflies of the year - 2 Eristalis tenax on Dandelion. In Ashley Court Road a Jay was sat in a tree calling, mimicking a Buzzard!

Eristalis tenax

Sparrowhawks and Springtails!

Highlights at the station this morning included a fly-over Sparrowhawk, a female Blackcap, a couple of Blackbirds, lots of House Sparrows, a pair of frisky Robins and a Goldfinch.

Sparrowwhawk

Goldfinch

This afternoon I saw lots of Springtails on the sill outside my window - possibly Entomobrya albocincta.  

Springtail

Jays!

A pair of Jays showed well this morning at the station. Nearby the park produced a Herring Gull and several Woodpigeons and Collared Doves.

Collared Dove

Herring Gull

Jay

Montpelier Park and Station!

The park produced 7 Woodpigeons feeding together and a Blackbird. At the station there were a few male and female Chaffinches near the feeders plus a couple of Starlings and 4 or 5 Grey Squirrels chasing each other. There was song from a Dunnock and a Wren.

 

Female Chaffinch

Male Chaffinch

 

Starling

Male Blackbird in the park

Fieldfare and Sparrowhawk!

The snowy weather brought a brief visit from a Fieldfare in the garden today plus a handsome male Sparrowhawk. Other garden birds included a Blue Tit, 2 Great Tits, a pair of Blackbirds feeding on Ivy berries, 4 Woodpigeons, 1 Feral Pigeon, 4 fly-over Starlings and a Magpie.

Sparrowhawk