Freeman's might not be free.....

Heard a rumour a while ago that the estate holder of Freeman’s Wood was planning to fence it off, well it’s started. Not sure about the access, will hopefully find out asap. Could mean very bad news if we can’t have access, I’m hoping that there might be stiles etc.

The pool was much the same as the other day, with a Treecreeper. No geese around that I could see. Little Egrets on the marsh, Lapwing, Golden Plover, Dunlin, Curlew, Redshank all present. On the track were Blackbird, Song Thrush, Bullfinch, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Wren, Dunnock, Robin. Had a scan through all the gulls, mainly Black headed, with up to 30 Herring Gull.  A fairly quiet hour.

Steve.

Geese and Gales...

Started off at the sewerage works but not much to see, very windy. A pair of Grey/Pied Wags and 9 Redshank. On the track same, a blustery wind kept me cycling along. When I reached the flood I saw Greylags in the fields beyond, and scanning with bins found a dozen or so Euro white-fronted geese.
Steve

Egrets there was a few........

Enjoyable plod around the Parish this morning. High tide saw large numbers of birds on the marsh, mainly Lapwing. The Greylags still on or near the cut maize fields. 14 Little Egrets, at least, spread about the place. 5 Skylark and 2 Ravens near the pylons, in the horse field were 6 Meadow Pipits and 2 Mistle Thrush, plus a few Pied wags.

Freeman’s Pool saw Gadwall 10, Tufted 4, Goldeneye 4, Coot 9, Little Grebe 2 and Mallard, Grey Heron and a Jay on the fence. Wildfowlers’, plenty of Teal and half a dozen or so Fieldfare.

Steve

Birdscape.....

Freeman’s Pool/Wood shoveler, goldeneye, tufted, mallard, shelduck, grey heron, coot, little grebe. 60 chaffinch, goldfinch, bullfinch, greenfinch, and mistle thrush, kestrel and large stoat. Marsh Point 34 oystercatcher, lapwing and gulls. Maize field still occupied by hundreds of greylags. Wildfowlers’ Pool mainly teal of interest plus a handful of fieldfare. 

Met up with Guy and Ola made our way to the sewerage works. Goldcrest 3, bullfinch 6, blackbird 15+, single fieldfare, meadow pipit, merlin chasing small bird, which escaped. Little egrets 3, curlew, widgeon, cormorant, lapwing, golden plover, canandas etc. red admiral at the cutting. 

Steve.

Start of the week.....

Brilliant start to the week. Black redstart was a new patch tick found at the sewerage works. The lack of this bird around Aldcliffe has been spoke about a great deal over the years and now finally on the record list. Dan came down and ticked it.  The sewerage works is ideal for this bird, and still plenty of insects around, midges especially! Lets hope it stays for a while. Also present were Grey/Pied Wagtails, Meadow Pipits and Redshank. 

Finally caught up with the Euro white-fronted geese, 17 on the far side of the river. Hundreds of Greylags around the patch, many being on the cropped maize fields. 3 Little Egrets on the marsh. Freeman’s Pool saw Gadwall, Goldeneye, Shoveler, Little Grebe, Coot, Moorhen, Tufted Ducks and a couple of deer. A Kestrel was scanning from the dead tree.

Steve