Bullfinches

The ringers caught these beauties in the nets yesterday. Immature females (presumably siblings).

4. Songs of Praise: I wish

Previously: CLICK HERE

As he got older he wanted to become an explorer to look for undiscovered wildlife so he set off on a discovery journey. Although he found the world to be full of many unknown strange and wonderful things, they all seemed to be in some sort of danger. He didn't know what to say or what to do about it. He wished for something more- he wished he could do something.

THEE BRYANS

To get the full story song book see here

Restoration Works Update

 Icebreaker!

 Willow Clearance along Southern Lake

 Willow reduction in ringing area

 Selected strimming of islands (and willow clearance) 

Reeds on the Southern Lake- planted these in 2010 See  HERE and HERE

 Lapwings and ducks moving straight into the areas strimmed on the islands

 Male Stonechat

 Water Pipit 

 The 'old man' working on the meadows

Found this Short-tailed Field Vole under a metal sheet

Into our second week of maintenance works at the farmlands. Here's a few pics of works and some of the wildlife around us. 

RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch

Tried the suet pellets instead of peanuts. Note home made pigeon proof ground feeder beneath the feeders. Reduced my pigeons from 30+ in the past to 4-5 recently. Squirrel proof feeders keep squirrels away but Parakeets still get the small squirrel proof feeder contents. 

In addition to the feeders got some natural food in the garden- cotoneaster, berberis and Rowan berries.

Great Spotted Woodpecker 

Kestrel past the window from today

Some video from last year

My totals were 40 individuals of 12 species actually in the garden, an additional 23 species from the window and including the roost flight path counts of Jackdaw (2640) and Ring-necked Parakeet (only 465) I had 3913 individuals in total (from the window).

Caspian Gull

Here's a few pics of a first-winter Caspian Gull from yesterday. Some of the mantle and scapulars feathers look rather 'filled' and the inner great coverts look a bit barred. The bill colour is rather odd too with an area of pale towards the base. Might not be completely 'pure' but a rather striking bird nonetheless.

Early Moth- a first for Beddington Farmlands

 Early Moth- found on the 'obs' door entrance

 Teal (and Grey Heron)

 Common Kestrel

Jack Snipe- flushed four from the lake islands yesterday and there have been five on the enclosed beds and the odd one elsewhere- perhaps up to 10+ on site (also 40+ Snipe). 

Lake works

Pic by Roger Browne

This week been working on the lakes at the farmlands, cutting back willows, clearing vegetation from in front of the Sand Martin bank, strimming the islands and mowing the meadows.
We rarely get to go out on the island- flushed 4 Jack Snipe, 8 Snipe and also found the elusive Bearded Tits.