The "north" of the county is always attractive at this time of year both in the beautiful array of Autumn colours found in the woodland and the associated birds.
First stop for me was East Carlton Country Park which looked particularly stunning draped with blue skies, sunshine and frost. Zig zagging around the park produced 2+ Brambling, 6 Siskins, Nuthatch, Marsh Tit and Great Spotted Woodpecker. But a clump of bushes/trees near to the big house held the prize of a staggering 13 Hawfinches !!!! Absolutely amazing sight, unfortunately short-lived due to the arrival of some yappy dogs and equally noisy owners.
A slow drive along the Welland Valley produced huge flocks of Fieldfare and Redwing and a male Peregrine Falcon near Gretton.
Next on the agenda was the churchyard at Bulwick. This small churchyard held an incredible number of birds including a male Blackcap, Chiffchaff, several Goldcrests and big numbers of Redwings.
Then it was onto Blatherwycke churchyard which like Bulwick was attractive to good numbers of birds, mainly winter thrushes and common finches.
Blatherwycke Lake is one of those places which is always busy with birds. Today it was "busy" for the wrong reasons, namely disturbance due to a big shoot taking place in the adjoining fields. Birds were literally flying everywhere and it was only possible to pick out 4 Mandarin Duck, an Egyptian Goose and Little Egret.
A good walk around Wakerley Wood produced very little apart from 2 Hawfinches, several Siskins, a Woodcock and the usual woodland species of Nuthatches, Marsh Tit and more winter thrushes.
My final destination was Fineshade Wood, looking stunning with the weak afternoon sunshine help creating the myriad of oranges, browns and yellows of the trees - amazing! Birds were a bit thin on the ground, a couple of Redpolls, a Crossbill and 2 Ravens being the highlights.
Throughout the day Red Kites were always overhead and filled the air with their evocative calls. All in all a good day and a good start to the week.
Other birds seen today included a Hawfinch flying over our garden at 07.20 this morning plus Nuthatch and Raven during the day. There were approx 300 Golden Plover at Harrington Airfield and a Barn Owl was between Hanging Houghton and Scaldwell.
Jacob visited Pitsford Reservoir today and notched up quite a list - 2 Green Sandpiper, 3 Redshank, 3 Great White Egret, 2 Stonechat, 5 Brambling, 2 Redpoll, 8 Siskin, 18 Pintail and 5 Scaup.
Regards,
Eleanor
First stop for me was East Carlton Country Park which looked particularly stunning draped with blue skies, sunshine and frost. Zig zagging around the park produced 2+ Brambling, 6 Siskins, Nuthatch, Marsh Tit and Great Spotted Woodpecker. But a clump of bushes/trees near to the big house held the prize of a staggering 13 Hawfinches !!!! Absolutely amazing sight, unfortunately short-lived due to the arrival of some yappy dogs and equally noisy owners.
A slow drive along the Welland Valley produced huge flocks of Fieldfare and Redwing and a male Peregrine Falcon near Gretton.
Next on the agenda was the churchyard at Bulwick. This small churchyard held an incredible number of birds including a male Blackcap, Chiffchaff, several Goldcrests and big numbers of Redwings.
Then it was onto Blatherwycke churchyard which like Bulwick was attractive to good numbers of birds, mainly winter thrushes and common finches.
Blatherwycke Lake is one of those places which is always busy with birds. Today it was "busy" for the wrong reasons, namely disturbance due to a big shoot taking place in the adjoining fields. Birds were literally flying everywhere and it was only possible to pick out 4 Mandarin Duck, an Egyptian Goose and Little Egret.
A good walk around Wakerley Wood produced very little apart from 2 Hawfinches, several Siskins, a Woodcock and the usual woodland species of Nuthatches, Marsh Tit and more winter thrushes.
My final destination was Fineshade Wood, looking stunning with the weak afternoon sunshine help creating the myriad of oranges, browns and yellows of the trees - amazing! Birds were a bit thin on the ground, a couple of Redpolls, a Crossbill and 2 Ravens being the highlights.
Throughout the day Red Kites were always overhead and filled the air with their evocative calls. All in all a good day and a good start to the week.
Other birds seen today included a Hawfinch flying over our garden at 07.20 this morning plus Nuthatch and Raven during the day. There were approx 300 Golden Plover at Harrington Airfield and a Barn Owl was between Hanging Houghton and Scaldwell.
Jacob visited Pitsford Reservoir today and notched up quite a list - 2 Green Sandpiper, 3 Redshank, 3 Great White Egret, 2 Stonechat, 5 Brambling, 2 Redpoll, 8 Siskin, 18 Pintail and 5 Scaup.
Regards,
Eleanor
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