The Hampreston fields were flooded again and these contained lots of gulls in fact I tried counting them and got to 153 of a mixture of Herring, Great Black-backed and Black-headed Gulls but there was a lot more BHG that I did not count and a group out on the lake, so I would of thought there would of been possible c180/200 gulls out on the fields it was a impressive group.There was 42 Mallards with 28 of them on the flooded fields while standing here scanning the fields and the large Island a flock of 14 Shoveler came flying in and dropped in to the flooded pools.
Sleepy Pochard |
We made our way along the west path scanning the scrub and wood on our right for any birds, as three birds still allude me at this site and they are Nuthacth, Treecreeper and Bullfinch which the latter I saw last year. At the top south west corner I found a Chiffchaff catching flies flitting in and out of the scrub, along with a Blue Tit and a Great Tit. We continued onwards toward the island and suddenly I found a Buzzard soaring towards us making this my first new bird of the month for the list.
East Path leading back to the car |
Walking back down the east side of the lake there was not much else about except for a couple of feral pigeons which can go on the list which is good as it will give me an extra point. The one thing of interest I did find was right in the waters edge among the winter reed was a large patch of frogs spawn.
Frog Spawn |
The species list now stands at 48 and a 49 species points
today's bird and some counts as follows
Redwing - 10
Pochard - 15
Great Crested Grebe
Teal - 19
Tufted Duck - 30
Canada Goose - 4
Gadwall - 14
Mallard - 42
Kestrel - 1
Little Egret - 2
Moorhen - 2
Shoveler - 14
Chiffchaff - 1
Blue Tit - 1
Great Tit -1
Buzzard -1
Feral Pigeon - 2
Cormorant - 5
you're starting to pull away from me Martin!
ReplyDeleteWill be interesting to see if any rarities pop up this year. There were quite a few yellow-browed warblers last october.
Expect you will catch up soon, I tried to look for the yellow-browed warblers and went to see the penduline tit but dipped on both of them roll on the spring
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