What Did I Miss?

Well turns out the only thing I did miss was a nice warm office. Only joking, but the excitement of last weeks trip to Anton Lakes wasn't duplicated today, However lots of Birds showing up, Fieldfare galore with smallish flocks seen all of the way around the site. A lone pair of Bullfinches hid amongst the branches, but neither moving near enough to the outsides of the bush for a decent photograph.

With the first proper frost this morning (Icy covering on the roads) all of the Native birds seem to have multiplied in numbers, so I'm reckoning some migrant Blue Tit, Great Tit, Blackbirds & Wrens have joined the winter population.

Todays chorus of Robin song pretty much drowned out the sound of anything else, and it seemed every
15-20 yards brought forth 2 or 3 battling for territories throughout my lunchtime walk, does mean however that they are a little bit easier to photograph.

Robins

Quite a few Jenny Wrens showing up, along with a definite increase in Chaffinch & Goldfinch, already in mixed flocks. Sadly no Kingfishers around the lakes or the ajoining waterways today, although a rather mottled Buzzard did fly off from his perch out in the water meadow as I walked past.

On the water the story is still pretty much the same, Mute Swans, Canada Geese, Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Little Grebe, Moorhen, Coot, Black Headed Gull & Mallard, although the Mallard numbers definitely seem to have swollen, possibly a lot more 'Wild" birds coming in as they were a lot more flighty than normal.

Mute Swan

The remainder of the walk back to the car brought pretty much the same as the first half, with the addition of 4 Redwing & a lone Greenfinch. Off to Exmoor tomorrow for a change of scenery, not packing the camera however so you'll just have to believe me if I see something exciting.

What A Way To Start The Day!

What a way to start the day! After a pretty crap nights sleep, the first rays of sunlight through the bedroom window as a I pulled back the curtains brought with them a nice surprise, Bertie the resident Barn Owl perched outside his nest box across the far side of the field. (I guess it could be Belinda, his mate - to far away to tell, so its even possible it was neither of these two) But im rambling now, I had to get the Binoculars out a bit quick as it was to make sure I wasn't imagining it in my bleary eyed state, confirmed Barn Owl hopping into Dads custom built nest box. Triiifffic! As Del Boy would say!

Nobody bloody mentioned that the Andover schools had the day off today! Mini motorbikes, Dog fights and endless Chav gangs - I ended my lunchtimes wander 20 minutes early because of the noise. None of the smaller birds that I'd seen earlier in the week were around and weather wise its been the best day of the week! I did somehow manage to squeeze in a full 10 minute viewing of the Kingfisher hidden amongst the trees, still not close enough for a decent pic, somewhat oblivious to the Chaos around him.

Grainy Kingfisher Proof

Cormorant

Mute Swan

Talking of which "Chaos" was the name of the Rotweiler chasing launched branches in to the lake by some pimple pocked faced Chav! This isn't good, Im beginning to think all my posts have to contain some kind of endless moaning, but I guess I shouldn't expect anything less from the location in which I go out. Other than the usual water going birds, the only noticeable sightings were a Buzzard, a Cormorant, a small flock of Fieldfare & a Grey Wagtail. Here's to hoping Sunday brings good weather so I can get out and about around the Estate.