I kept an eye on the bird news and was glad it was re-found so I managed to ensure I worked close again today. I didn't have time to visit before work so I popped out over lunch. When I arrived there was no sign of them despite about 30 minutes of scanning. There was a flock of Long-tailed Tits flitting up down the reed bed.
Long-tailed Tits
Also in the reed beds were Moorhen, Reed Bunting, Blue Tit and a pair or Chiffchaff.
Female Reed Bunting
Male Reed Bunting
Chiffchaff
I decided to take a walk around the pool to see what else I could find, and maybe find the Pendulines.
The fields around the pool contained about 15 Magpie, a large flock of Fieldfare interspersed with a few Redwing and a Buzzard soaring and calling over. There were a number of Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail and a few Goldfinch.
Meadow Pipit
Pied Wagtail
Goldfinch
Magpie
Around the other side of the pool I was treated to some great views of a pair of Stonechat, I followed them along for about 10 minutes trying to get a decent shot but they wouldn't let me approach any closer than about 10 meters.
Male Stonechat
Female Stonechat
Male Stonechat
Female Stonechat
On the way back round to where the Penduline Tits are normally seen I was treated to a lovely view of a Kingfisher flying around the reedbed trying to find a suitable perch which it failed to do. Out on the water there were 4 Mute Swan, 3 Wigeon (2m & 1f), Mallard, Coot and Moorhen with Gull numbers steadily increasing. When I arrived it was predominantly Black-headed Gull with a pair of Herring Gull and a single Common Gull, by now there were approx. 15 Herring Gull, 6 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Common Gull and a different looking Herring Gull (Had it confirmed on the Facebook UK Gulls ID group as a Herring)
Herring & LBB Gulls
Herring & LBB Gulls
Herring & LBB Gulls
Herring & LBB Gulls
Mallard
It was another no show on the Penduline Tits so I headed up to the brook to have a look, there I heard so loud 'seeping' which I couldn't place, I spent 20 mins trying to locate them. The sound ceased whilst I was checking another area so before I left I thought I'd have one last look and suddenly in my binoculars was a Penduline Tit :) I spent about 10 minutes with fleeting views when other arrived, I was able to put them onto it for a bit until it flew straight up then appeared to come down by the brook. One of those present went to check while we continued to search the reeds, he found the pair in the Willows along the brook and they gave some great views to about 10 people.
Penduline Tit
Penduline Tit
Penduline Tit
Penduline Tit
Penduline Tit
A worthwhile couple of hours at a small pool you would never realise was there next to a busy road across from and industrial estate gave me a lifer and a year tick, happy days....
No comments:
Post a Comment