Treecreeper

Already heard some distant probable calls this year but the birds were performing well at Bedford Purlieus this morning putting them firmly on the list. Also good views of Nuthatch and singing Marsh Tits but Lesser Spot again elusive.

88 Treecreeper

Tawny Owl

A bird hooting in Lynch Wood this evening on my ride home.

87 Tawny Owl

Kingfisher

These are very thin on the ground at the moment and this might only be the second one reported in the Peterborough area so far this year. Anyway it was nice to see at Castor Mill on the ride into work this morning.

86 Kingfisher

Blackcap

I very nearly didn't see this bird. Karen spotted a male fly though and then saw it again feeding under one of the feeders. I finally caught sight of it in the holly tree.

85 Blackcap

Cryptic ticks

Took a ride out to Thornhaugh Quarry where the numbers of Snipe and Woodcock were low but one each of Woodcock and Jack Snipe and 8 Snipe provided a couple of ticks. A ride into Bedford Purlieus gained Marsh Tit but it was cruel that a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker called later when I returned by car with Karen.

82 Woodcock
83 Jack Snipe
84 Marsh Tit

Five more

My first cycle this year along the North Bank and it was depressing to see the North Bank road open again to through traffic. Why drivers feel the need to take it so dangerously I really don't know. Anyway the sewage farm provided the first two ticks and North Fen the rest.

77 Green Sandpiper
78 Grey Wagtail
79 Bewick's Swan
80 Whooper Swan
81 Golden Plover

Barn Owl and Red-legged Partridge

A rather muddy cycle in this morning via Orton BP. The Barn Owl was hunting just SE of Haddon and the partridges on the mound at OBP.

75 Barn Owl
76 Red-legged Partridge

Cetti's Warbler & Water Rail

Went to Bradley Fen at dawn this morning hoping for Bittern and/or Bearded Tit. Neither showed but walking past the reedbed a Cetti's Warbler fired off a song right next to me and boy are they loud! Water Rail were calling and I also had a couple of Roe Deer and a Common Buzzard.

73 Cetti's Warbler
74 Water Rail

Four more

A couple of Meadow Pipits at Castor Mill this morning followed by a Shelduck and a Snipe on the reserve at Ferry Meadows. The Goldcrest was calling along Thorpe Road.

69 Meadow Pipit
70 Shelduck
71 Snipe
72 Goldcrest

Buntings, etc.

Cycled in to work via Orton BP this morning for the first time this year. On the way picked up Yellowhammer and Pheasant and soon had Reed Bunting at OBP. A lone drake Red-crested Pochard was the only new addition among the good numbers of wildfowl.

65 Yellowhammer
66 Pheasant
67 Reed Bunting
68 Red-crested Pochard

Mealy Redpoll

I had just ticked Don and Matt off on the year list and while we were chatting by Lynch Lake a small flock of Redpolls landed in a young birch next to us. The first bird I looked at was a big pale thing. Nice! This is one I didn't get last year.

64 Mealy Redpoll

Green Wood and Nuthatch

A couple of Green Woodpeckers seen on the cycle in this morning and a vocal, showy Nuthatch in Bluebell Wood. I apparently missed a pair of Red-crested Pocherd by not going via Gunwade though.

62 Green Woodpecker
63 Nuthatch

Lapwing & Stock Dove

From the garden this morning.

60 Lapwing
61 Stock Dove

Common Buzzard

Close encounters with Red Kite and Grey Heron in the garden this morning but the Buzzard that flew by was the next tick.

59 Common Buzzard

Bullfinch and rain

One of those rare days when it rained going into work and coming home. Of course it managed to stay largely dry in between. Spent most of the ride home cursing the weather.

Several Bullfinches on the way in were the only addition for the day.

58 Bullfinch

Sparrowhawk

From the comfort of my desk at work. The first of many year ticks from here I hope.

57 Sparrowhawk

Waxwings and Goosander

A good start to the year with a lunchtime bike ride to north Werrington netting a flock of 110+ Waxwings and a party of 11 Goosander.

54 Waxwing
55 Shoveler
56 Goosander

2011 underway

So here goes again. The first three days of the year have been spent in Elton, the biggest surprise being a Goldeneye on the river, although a flock of Wigeon going north were unusual here. Lesser Redpoll in the garden were also good.

1st Jan
1 Great Cormorant
2 Eurasian Wigeon
3 Mallard
4 Red Kite
5 Black-headed Gull
6 Common Gull
7 Woodpigeon
8 Collared Dove
9 Pied Wagtail
10 Wren
11 Dunnock
12 Robin
13 Blackbird
14 Fieldfare
15 Redwing
16 Mistle Thrush
17 Long-tailed Tit
18 Coal Tit
19 Blue Tit
20 Great Tit
21 Jackdaw
22 Rook
23 Carrion Crow
24 Starling
25 House Sparrow
26 Chaffinch
27 Goldfinch
28 Lesser Redpoll

2nd Jan
29 Goldeneye
30 Kestrel
31 Moorhen
32 Herring Gull
33 Great Spotted Woodpecker
34 Skylark
35 Magpie
36 Tree Sparrow
37 Greenfinch

3rd Jan
38 Great Black-backed Gull
39 Song Thrush

4th Jan (first day back cycling to work)
40 Little Grebe
41 Great Crested Grebe
42 Grey Heron
43 Mute Swan
44 Greylag Goose
45 Canada Goose
46 Gadwall
47 Teal
48 Pochard
49 Tufted Duck
50 Coot
51 Feral Pigeon
52 Jay
53 Siskin

163 at the finish

Despite a bit of effort on the 31st I was unable to add any more to the year list and it finishes on 163. A huge improvement on last year.