Saturday, 16 January 2010

All Quiet on the Western Front



It's amazing how quickly the birds have disappeared back out in to the wider country side and I'm quite relieved about it really because I would hate to think of our very small Dartford warbler and Cirl bunting populations being knocked back. It's taken a fair few years for the Dartfords to establish themselves and the Cirl bunting re-introduction is only just getting started.
This Fieldfare was one victim of the freeze and I'm sure for every visible casualty there are a lot more unseen.
There were still a few thrushes in the fields along Burthallan lane mostly Redwings and Song thrushes but with a couple of Fieldfares. 5 Golden plover flew over as I approached the double bend and looking out to sea from here there was quite a passage of Gannets and Auks moving West.
I sat on Clodgy for a while watching the passing seabirds but apart from one or two Kittiwakes there was nothing much else.
I searched desperately for a Stonechat but couldn't find a single one. Even in winter there are usually one or two still around, I really hope they've managed to survive the cold. I can't imagine Clodgy without them.
The bird of the day for me was a Mistle thrush in the field behind the David Bowie house. This field was quite lively with 4 song thrushes 10 Redwings and the first posse of Starlings I've seen for a few weeks.
Finally a female Black redstart was feeding on the rocks behind the Lifeboat station. i'm quite pleased with this shot considering I 've no equipment for taking bird photo's.

1 comments:

  1. It is a nice photo of the black redstart and I think it's great that you see them so regularly.

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