On the move.........

Quick cycle round the top end of the patch, things moving about with the pools all now ice free.

Freeman's Pool

Coot 3, Mallard 28, Pochard 1, Gadwall 3, Shoveler 3, Tufted Duck 1, Mute Swan 2, Goldeneye 3. Also, about 35 Woodpigeon feeding at various places. 

Marsh Point

 Saw BH Gull 250, LBB Gull 5, Comm Gull 15, Herr Gull 15, Lapwing 107 and a welcome return of 19 Oystercatchers. Starlings 114 also present. 

On the track was a flock of 8 Long-tailed Tit, Greenfinch 1 and 2 Bullfinch. All the geese were on the opposite side of the river, but there was 700 Lapwing to view. Curlew 5.

Steve.

Crime Watch........

Freeman’s Pool was almost ice free and a number of birds present which was great to see, Gadwall 3, Teal 2, Goldeneye 2, Shoveler 1, Coot 1, Mute Swan 2, and Mallard 9. Grey Partridge 5 in the field next door, and the stubble fields saw plenty of Lapwings, approx 200 with a small flock of 40 Starling. The track was quiet with a couple of Greenfinch. I then noticed that the dead tree near the trig point had gone, shame as was often used as a vantage point for various birds such as Kestrel. Again the Wildfowlers’ Pool was empty apart from a Teal and Moorhen. The Flood was also dead; in the fields nearby were more Lapwings and a flock of 60 Starling. The hedge cutters were out in force again!

I was talking to a regular dog walker about the Roe Deer, which I tend not to mention on here so as not inform the bad guys of their presence, he was telling me of two deer recently killed by dogs, and he witnessed three blokes with dogs cornering a deer at the pools. If anyone sees poaching/wildlife crimes in progress please ring the police straight away, and any information/non-emergency can be passed onto the wildlife crime officer by telephoning 01524 63333 or 0845 1253545.

Steve

Thaw Blimey..........

Actual signs of a thaw today with the small pools free of ice. At the far end of Freeman's were 3 Shoveler, 2 Mute Swans and 15 Mallard. Good number of Blackbird and 2 Song Thrush. Marsh Point were 33 Lesser Black-backed Gulls. The track had a flock of Long-tailed Tits hurrying through the hedgerow and 3 Dunnock with 2 Bullfinch and a few Chaffinch hanging about. Last Tuesday I counted 9 Bullfinch on the track. Lapwings were busy in the stubble fields, 250, along with a few Redshank, Moorhen and Mallard. Darter Pool saw another 4 Shoveler, all male. Wildfowlers despite the thaw was quiet with just a handful of Teal, the field towards the marsh had about 120 Greylag. A Snipe flew over. A Sparrowhawk was also making its presence known.

The Flood was void of bird life while the fields towards the hill saw a good number of Lapwing. rough estimate 350, and gulls, mainly Black-headed 175. A few Shelduck were on the marsh and the usual geese/swan numbers. A Kestrel was hunting near the railway cutting. 

I popped down late one evening last week and managed to see Uranus which is in conjunction with Jupiter as well as the giant planets four main satellites Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto, Jupiter has 63 confirmed moons to date!

Steve 

Where did they come from?

2 common buzzards were seen just before dusk being mobbed by crows over trig hill. They looked like they were trying to find a quiet roost spot. Although buzzards are seen fairly frequently during spring and autumn and a couple seem to be resident at Lunecliffe/Deep Cutting it is fairly unusual to see them down here at this time of year.

Guy

Happy New Year..............................

Waxwing yesterday, 21, courtesy of Dan, no sign this morning.

Barnacle Geese still present along with Greylags, Canada and Mute Swans. Freeman's Wood saw Treecreeper 2, Wren, Bullfinch, Robins, Great/Blue/Long-tailed tits, Song Thrush, Dunnock.

All fairly quiet really, pools all still frozen, lots of bikes, dogs and walkers, many managing to wander off the paths! Few Fieldfare, lots of Blackbirds, Chaffinch and an influx of Magpies, about 30 something.

Two Peregrines were at the pylons.
From LDBWS, 7 Grey Partridge in the field south of the bund at the Freeman's Wood crossroads, courtesy of eddybayton.
I seem to be missing quite a few good birds last few days, such is life!
Steve
-----
Happy New Year all. Dan here!

A friend tells me there were at least four waxwings in hawthorns along the track today, but a little nearer Stodday than yesterday's larger flock. They were even flitting down to the high tide flotsam to glean something or other.

I think I might be right in saying that these are the first waxwing records for Aldcliffe proper. Waxwings seem to prefer to be close to amenities like supermarkets, schools and hospitals in Winter!

Here is my chum's record shot from this morning (almost as bad as one of mine!)