Hello
Well the temperature may have shot up and the snow is melting fast, but it was a day dominated by visiting some of our feed stations today.
After feeding the birds in the garden, and saying good-bye to the Fieldfares as they largely departed, off then to Scotland Wood. Cold, loads of snow and foggy but the Marsh Tits flew towards me as I placed their sunflower seeds in the prescribed position on the wooden gate and I wandered deeper into the wood filling up the feeders as I went. Lots of footprints in the snow indicate large numbers of Pheasants, some deer and a Fox or two.
At Kelmarsh Hall the Siskins and Goldfinches were pleased to see me as the niger feeders were mostly empty, and after dispensing two bucket loads of niger, mixed seed, sunflower seed, peanuts and fat it was on to Sunderland Wood. This is a rather isolated ash wood and it was still pretty precarious with heavy drifted snow and untreated minor roads but we made it! Sadly we seem to have lost a couple of the Robins at one spot in the wood but the Nuthatches flew to me immediately I entered the wood and most of the other birds came on cue too!
Later in the day I visited the feeding station at the Water Treatment Works on the outskirts of Brixworth, no access with a vehicle being possible still with a big drift across the entrance. After checking the feeders I noticed Grey Heron, Snipe and Teal on the small marsh plus a male Stonechat (the first for the site I think) and at least one Grey Wagtail. The Magpies and Crows waited for their treats and after feeding the smaller passerines it was off to Pitsford Reservoir.
The feeders at Christies Copse were topped up yesterday so no need today, but the main feeding station situated at the bottom of the Old Scaldwell Road has required daily visits since the harsh weather. Some of the apples I placed out yesterday were still there but some had been consumed, hopefully by hungry Fieldfares. Tree Sparrows, Yellowhammers and Reed Buntings depend on this sub-site and were present in good numbers today. A calling Curlew flying north is definitely an indication of spring!
My last feeding station for the day was in the exposed grounds of the Sailing Club where the easterly winds have been particularly bitter and as a consequence not many birds have spent long feeding there. This is also one of two waterfowl feeding areas at the reservoir and the Mute Swans, Coots, Moorhens and Mallard enjoyed their fodder!
After several days of not seeing it, the Slavonian Grebe was again back in the Pintail Bay!
Eleanor saw the Barn Owl again in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this afternoon and Eric and Debbie's patrol of the Titchmarsh Reserve today produced sightings of a Water Rail, two Oystercatchers and several Snipe plus a pair of Goosander and a Siskin.
Regards
Neil M
Well the temperature may have shot up and the snow is melting fast, but it was a day dominated by visiting some of our feed stations today.
After feeding the birds in the garden, and saying good-bye to the Fieldfares as they largely departed, off then to Scotland Wood. Cold, loads of snow and foggy but the Marsh Tits flew towards me as I placed their sunflower seeds in the prescribed position on the wooden gate and I wandered deeper into the wood filling up the feeders as I went. Lots of footprints in the snow indicate large numbers of Pheasants, some deer and a Fox or two.
At Kelmarsh Hall the Siskins and Goldfinches were pleased to see me as the niger feeders were mostly empty, and after dispensing two bucket loads of niger, mixed seed, sunflower seed, peanuts and fat it was on to Sunderland Wood. This is a rather isolated ash wood and it was still pretty precarious with heavy drifted snow and untreated minor roads but we made it! Sadly we seem to have lost a couple of the Robins at one spot in the wood but the Nuthatches flew to me immediately I entered the wood and most of the other birds came on cue too!
Later in the day I visited the feeding station at the Water Treatment Works on the outskirts of Brixworth, no access with a vehicle being possible still with a big drift across the entrance. After checking the feeders I noticed Grey Heron, Snipe and Teal on the small marsh plus a male Stonechat (the first for the site I think) and at least one Grey Wagtail. The Magpies and Crows waited for their treats and after feeding the smaller passerines it was off to Pitsford Reservoir.
The feeders at Christies Copse were topped up yesterday so no need today, but the main feeding station situated at the bottom of the Old Scaldwell Road has required daily visits since the harsh weather. Some of the apples I placed out yesterday were still there but some had been consumed, hopefully by hungry Fieldfares. Tree Sparrows, Yellowhammers and Reed Buntings depend on this sub-site and were present in good numbers today. A calling Curlew flying north is definitely an indication of spring!
My last feeding station for the day was in the exposed grounds of the Sailing Club where the easterly winds have been particularly bitter and as a consequence not many birds have spent long feeding there. This is also one of two waterfowl feeding areas at the reservoir and the Mute Swans, Coots, Moorhens and Mallard enjoyed their fodder!
After several days of not seeing it, the Slavonian Grebe was again back in the Pintail Bay!
Eleanor saw the Barn Owl again in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this afternoon and Eric and Debbie's patrol of the Titchmarsh Reserve today produced sightings of a Water Rail, two Oystercatchers and several Snipe plus a pair of Goosander and a Siskin.
Regards
Neil M
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| Marsh Tit. |
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| Magpie. |
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| Curlew. |
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