2 Greylag 1 Kingfisher (on river) 1 Dipper (on river) 1 Scaup 2 Common Scoter (1m, 1f) 2 Little Ringed Plover (on mud at Withins) 50- 100 Sand Martin (hard to count) 2 Rose-ringed Parakeet (feeders) 1 Willow warbler (singing again near Capsticks) Meadow pipit (very small number heading north)
18 Whooper Swan still present until they departed north at 7pm 3 Little-ringed Plover Snipe Scaup 14 Goldeneye 2 Ring-necked Parakeet 17 Redwing east Common Buzzard 110 meadow pipit north
This morning, 2 adult Whooper Swans dropped in at 8am and stayed till 8.48am when they flew west due to a Mute Swan chasing them, also drake Scaup still and 115 Meadow Pipit north.
Drake Scaup showing well this morning also 10 Goldeneye, 2 Little Grebe. Also 89 Meadow Pipit and 4 Sand Martin north. Blackcap and Siskin at the feeders.
Some signs of cold weather movement this morning in the snow
Heading south 11 Skylark (single at 7:30 whilst still dark and a flock of 10 later) 42 Fieldfare 250 Redwing 10 meadow pipit 19 Snipe (inc a flock of 17) Woodcock
2 Woodcock Common Buzzard 3 Shoveler 5 Goldeneye 25 Lapwing South 20 Redwing Willow Tit 2 Nuthatch Goldcrest 2 Stock dove Great spotted Woodpecker 3 Ring necked Parakeet Water Rail
Common scoter (female) 9 goldeneye 13 Goosander Gadwall Little grebe on withins 4 little Egret 2 water rail 80 redwing 970 Pink-footed Geese SE and 90 west 9 Greylag Geese west 236 Woodpigeon north 5 stock dove north 250+ lapwing south over pilsworth
Nice walk this morning. Highlights were long-tailed tit flock, flyover goosanders, nuthatch and willow tit at the feeders and a water rail sitting out preening in full view along the canal about 200 m from the bridge at the outflow. Watched it for two minutes before it ambled off into the reeds. Also met a local birder for a chat, this post is for him to let him know I saw a water rail.
Sat 14/12 13:00-14:00 on res after filling bird feeders 2 fem/imm Common Scoters 5 Shovelers 5 Goosanders 1 male 2 Little Egrets 3 male Goldeneyes c. 50 Tufted Ducks mostly males 20 Teal mostly males 1 Snipe 7 Cormorants
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 14th of December 2024 02:26:10 PM
Both Grey and Golden plovers heard flying over in the murk/drizzle Scaup still present 3 pochard 110 redwing east 20 Fieldfare east Several Little Egret
Good morning at Elton with Simon Johnson and Paul Wilson -
Vis mig watch early on -
2 Hawfinch picked up over Spen Moor flying just above pylons heading SW past the cemetry at 8.24am giving decent scope views 534 Redwings mostly south or SE 266 Fieldfares mostly south or SE 14 Siskin south 88 Chaffinch mostly south or west 1 Redshank through 1 calling Golden Plover over us north 1 Jack Snipe seemed to drop in and then circled Withins before dropping down towards the canal 2 Little Egret west
On the reservoir -
Imm drake Scaup still 3 Pochard 1 Goldeneye 5 Wigeon 60 Teal 30+ Tufted 2 Goosander 6 Little Egret
This mornings vis mig watch from Withins with Paul Wilson up to 11.30am produced -
Single Hawfinch flying low south, right past us at 8.35am 5051 Redwings south, SW or SE, with some even going NE. 744 Fieldfare South 1 Greylag west 21 Wigeon west 12 Teal west 54 Herring Gull east 8 Great Black-backed Gulls east 403 Starlings NW 14 Meadow Pipit 7 Bullfinch 25 Chaffinch 27 Siskin 2 Redpoll 14 Goldfinch 6 Stock Dove
Photo's taken by Elton's finest photographer, Mr Wilson.
11 parakeets on the feeders around 3.30. Several little egrets in the tree behind. I sent the grandchildren out to spook the parakeets as there were no other birds at the feeders when the parakeets were about!!