03/12/2009

A bit more exciting today, although birding in general will remain unproductive through till January at least because most of the time I will be visiting after school and by that time there is an appauling amount of light left.

3 FIRECRESTS at the golf course today between telephone wire posts 657 and 678. Viewing details see left and below. 2 birds showed well, reacting to a bit of pishing. They flew from the thick vegetation to the left to the hedge to the right along a garden fence and fed there, showing well. The 3rd bird was heard calling softly from the foliage from where the original 2 came and they responded, calling frantically before eventually flying back.

Also 2 GOLDCRESTS along the wooded footpath near at the row on conifers c.600 metres down and on the right hand side. They were very inquistive and called, even singing at one point, while they flitted here and there, making themselves impossible to get good views of in the dying light.

c.5 REDWINGS were noted and a flock of c.10 LONG-TAILED TITS was nice to see.

ALSO LOGGED

1 BLACKBIRD
1 WREN
1 ROBIN
2 MAGPIES
1 CHAFFINCH
1+ ROSE-RINGED PARAKEET


IN OTHER NEWS

Not much to report but a single GREY HERON that flew low WSW over Overton Park/Belmont Heights at c.15:10 was the best sighting. 23 REDWINGS flew over Burdon Lane as did c.3 ROSE-RINGED PARAKEETS.


LATE OTHER NEWS 01/12/2009

In Sutton the pair of PEREGRINES showed well near Sutton Station in the afternoon. Best viewed from the Sutton Station car park. The male afforded good views atop the glass building just north of the Reed Building (the big brownish one). The female was on the usual north east corner of the Reed Building in front of the grey air conditioning pannel just below the top of the main part of the building.

Both the male and the female could be seen well perched up and both of them flew around, giving excellent, low views over the town at least once each, the female giving some lovely calls as she landed.