Tree Pipits, Sand Martins, Redstart...

Fairly calm, zero oktas. All birds NNW.


Vis.   0800-1200:

sand martin-       56

meadow pipit-    97

tree pipit- *          2  (1st 0910h, 2nd 1135h.)

siskin-                  3

linnet-                 17

'alba' wagtail-     1

wheatear-            5  (0910h. Northbound flock dropped from 20m to rest in tree for 10 mins pictured)

goldfinch             N/C but c100 NNW.

Vis. 1530-1730:



sand martin-       213**

goldfinch-            79

swallow-                3

reed bunting-        1


* I usually only note a few TP each year here (always vis.), so was pleased with these two early birds.

**A decent afternoon push of SM kept me interested despite lack of migrant raptors.. On average the martins flying higher than the morning's session. In larger parties too-- usually loose flocks of 5-15).


On the deck:

An early-ish male common redstart was hedge-hopping early on, melting NE.

Circa 900 pink-footed geese feeding on Colloway Marsh.

 Seemed to be a few new blackcaps in the wood including a female.



DH

Chat Overheard / Overhead

A stiff Westerly and sunny spells on my watch today. Pictured below? A wheatear over at 100 feet.

Movement 1030-1530:

meadow pipit- 45 NW  in first hour, 11 thereafter

sand martin- 46 NW

swallow-       11 NW 

redpoll sp.-    2 NW

siskin -             2 N

merlin-             1W

skylark-            1N

wheatear-*       2N

(*1235h. surprised to hear a harsh contact call and find two of these night-orientated migrants heading over North at about 20 metres off the hilltop. Continued high (c50m up) over the town. Can't say whether they had been in flight for a few hours or a few minutes only, (same with all these 'vis.' birds!) but behaviour interested me nonetheless. Half an hour later I picked up a flock of five similar-looking passerine dots quite high NE which were probably also this species).

No target species of the OP kind. Good views of local sparrowhawks and buzzards down to 5 metres. A little egret went over West and pitched down on Aldcliffe marsh.

960 pink-footed geese were seen feeding on Colloway Marsh.

(Pictured below- a local raptor at 30 feet.)

DH

Trig unhappy

A watch in pretty blowy conditions 1045-1515 resulted in the following heading N or NW:

23 sand martins in twos and threes

11 swallows

5 meadow pipits

2 linnets

1 redpoll sp.

6 greylag

1 snipe

No target species!

Also noted: the escaped falcon sp. over the city centre, a few willow warblers in song.

DH

Late Escape

Dan here.

Today's unpleasant weather made my watchpoint untenable (a few swallows N before heavier rain set in), so I had a trail round the more popular parts of the parish instead.

Interest was limited to a pochard, 12 each of sand martin and swallow and two little ringed plovers at Freeman's Pools.

A wheatear was in the stubble field and a male blackcap was in the wood.

Bumped into a similarly bedraggled Steve W who could only add another wheatear and some meadow pipits to the migrant tally.


Late-escaping news from my visit on Saturday included a saker (or saker-type) falcon chasing crows at high speed.

A merlin and 3 male white wagtails were also noted.

DH

Who mentioned spring....................

Had a quick visit this morning, managed to cycle through without seeing a great deal! It was very cold thanks to an icy wind. My plan was to see what, if anything, the forecasted rain might drop. Unfortunately the idea of a cup of tea and much needed warmth put an end to that idea!

Freeman’s Pool had a dozen tufted duck, a handsome gadwall, 6 oystercatchers, a number of Shelduck coming and going and Coot. Chiffchaff singing, I counted 8 on Friday from Freeman’s to the pylons. The horse, grazing at the top end, which is looking worse for wear has apparently been reported to the RSPCA.

The track had chaffinch, greenfinch and 2 bullfinch, there was a Buzzard on a fence post. On the flood I saw 2 LRP and 3 pied wagtail plus 2 Reed Bunting. It began to rain so I set off home!

Steve