Usually, like a lot of Birders, I go out on the first day off the New Year to get a good start on my list but due to over sleeping and a general lethargy ended up spending New Years Day on the sofa😴 However this ended up being a pretty good decision , with a good variety of birds hitting the garden, best were a Blackcap, a Song Thrush ,couple of Blackbirds alongside the Robin and the usual House Sparrows, once again we were visited by a Sparrowhawk, not the juvenile from last time ,this one an adult Male, didn't stay long or pose as well the last one but got a few pics through the window, it managed to catch one of our Sparrows but was immediately set upon by a Magpie so don't know if he kept his prize.
 |
| Male Sparrowhawk |
So our first trip out today, obviously staying local so hit the patch, a grey, cold day and started very slowly indeed! It was 20 minutes before a bird of note was seen, not counting the flock of Long-tailed Tits that surrounded the car before I'd even got me bins out ,damn them tricky lollipops will they ever give a chance!! So first bird Bullfinch!! Though fairly distant, views were good two birds present. Margie managed a couple of tree shots!
 |
| Bullfinch |
 |
| Bullfinch ,good ID feature for Newbies note the white rump as it flies away, which is the usual views!! |
 |
| Tree by Margie |
 |
| Another Tree by Margie |
We wandered around and slowly it picked up with a few Redwings and Fieldfare, a Mistle Thrush a couple of Song Thrushes and some Goldfinch. But generally quiet, Margie took a picture of a Cock!!
 |
| Goldfinch |
 |
| Redwing |
 |
| Fieldfare |
 |
| Mistle Thrush |
 |
| Song Thrush |
 |
| Margie's Cock Pic |
We walked up to the Vineyard, was able to get my customary shot of Hurst Church, big flock of Starlings in the vines a few Redwings, Song Thrushes and Goldfinches a flock of 20 Meadow Pipits dropped in and promptly disappeared, got a few glimpses of them in amongst the vines but couldn't manage a pic, a flock of Geese went over mainly Greylags, with a couple of Canadas. As we walked down the hill a Kestrel sat in a tree and further on a couple of Buzzards sat in a distant tree, that ole Deja Vu again!!
 |
| Kestrel |
 |
| The Church again |
 |
| Greylags |
 |
| Buzzards |
 |
| Buzzard |
 |
| Wolstonbury Hill, Jack "n" Jill and the Ditchling Beacon by Margie |
 |
| Dead tree by Margie |
Once again we heard the calls of Long-tailed Tits, soon picking them out in a large tree, resigning myself to another session of torment I set about the task, still hard work but I actually managed some pics where you can see what colour they are Hurrah!!! 😲
Whilst I was concentrating on the Tits, Margie had sneaked off and had refound the Kestrel where she managed the best pics of the day as the bird sat on the wire right over her head!!
No comments:
Post a Comment