Cold weather birds on their way!

Hello

As we await the arrival of a significant change in the weather this week-end with strong easterly winds from the Baltic and snow forecast, it was a day to visit the local feed stations and top up the feeders in anticipation of some challenging weather for our birds.

With extreme weather hurtling in from the east it will probably push birds ahead of it and already there is evidence of a huge invasion of Woodcocks on the Yorkshire east coast. In a day or two these birds and thrushes and others will be seeking refuge in the county and our gardens may well swell with extra hungry birds.

Our garden is only small but some ringing in the garden tells me that this year we have already been visited by over forty Blackbirds, over forty Goldfinches, over eighty Blue Tits and fifteen Robins. Helen opened her garden net today and the first bird processed was a male Blackcap!

At Pitsford Reservoir today the Great Northern Diver was near the Pintail Bay and birds north of the causeway included at least one Stonechat and four Snipe.

In the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton the four Stonechats and the Barn Owl were still there and birds at Harrington Airfield this afternoon included a male Brambling and two hundred and twenty Golden Plovers.

At Hollowell Reservoir Jon located an adult Caspian Gull and an adult Yellow-legged Gull.

Regards

Neil M

Male Blackcap courtesy
of John Tilly.

Woodcock.

Female Blackbird. Expect
extra Blackbirds in your gardens
 from Sunday onwards!