Little Owl and Green Wood

Went down to Ferry Meadows this lunchtime insearch of reported Water Rail and Little Owl. The rail wasn't showing but the Little Owl was in the top of its favourite oak by the archery area. The Green Woodpecker was near the visitor centre and was a very late addition to the year list for this species.

69 Little Owl
70 Green Woodpecker

Song Thrush

Surprising omission but this is the first I've noticed this year, singing near home at dawn.

68 Song Thrush

Several additions

A male Blackcap on treetops oppsite my office was the first ever in winter here.

62 Blackcap

Also took my first ride this year east along the Nene today. Added Gadwall and Redshank at North Bank Sewage Works and Pheasant, Shelduck and Meadow Pipit at Bradley Fen.

63 Gadwall
64 Redshank
65 Pheasant
66 Shelduck
67 Meadow Pipit

Mediterranean Gull

A first-winter found by Matt Webb at this site near the city centre. Also an office tick!

61 Mediterranean Gull

Golden Plover

17 passing the house along the Northants side of the Nene Valley this morning.

60 Golden Plover

Iceland Gull

Found yesterday by Josh Jones, this bird was luckily right at the front of the resting flock on the field opposite Dogsthorpe Tip this lunchtime. It soon flew off onto the tip and I didn't see it again.

59 Iceland Gull

Coal Tit, Goldcrest & Grey Wagtail

A short wander up to the Cemetery from work this lunchtime netted me three more ticks. The Grey Wagtail was unexpected flying over Broadway; I've not seen any in the town for ages.

56 Coal Tit
57 Goldcrest
58 Grey Wagtail

Mistle Thrush

In Elton today.

55 Mistle Thrush

Ducks

Headed to Ferry Meadows again lunchtime. Got as far as Lynch this time and this has a few ducks. The 'pecker was calling from Bluebell Wood and Skylarks were passing over the valley on my return journey.

50 Great Spotted Woodpecker
51 Pochard
52 Teal
53 Shoveler
54 Skylark

Tawny Owl

Much hooting keeping the family awake last night.

49 Tawny Owl

Kestrel

All seen from car so far this year so this one at home is a BIGBY.

48 Kestrel

Ferry Meadows

A highly successful first cycle down the the meadows with many birds performing very well.

European White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons albifrons, adult


Greylag Anser anser


Canada Goose Branta canadensis


Mute Swan Cygnus olor


Mallard Anas platyrhynchos


Coot Fulica atra


33 Sparrowhawk
34 Long-tailed Tit
35 Little Grebe
36 Mallard
37 Tufted Duck
38 Canada Goose
39 Greylag
40 White-fronted Goose
41 Great Crested Grebe
42 Coot
43 Moorhen
44 Goosander
45 Grey Heron
46 Nuthatch

Then back at the office in the afternoon a couple of gulls flew north to add to the days tally.

47 Great Black-backed Gull

Common Gull

First day back at work. Common Gull is very common here but not at home so was the only addition.

32 Common Gull

The second

21 Stock Dove
22 Lapwing
23 Mute Swan
24 Cormorant
25 Tree Sparrow
26 Common Buzzard
27 Feral Pigeon
28 Wren
29 Herring Gull
30 Great Tit
31 Pied Wagtail

2012 underway

1 Starling
2 House Sparrow
3 Collared Dove
4 Blue Tit
5 Red Kite
6 Woodpigeon
7 Jackdaw
8 Blackbird
9 Black-headed Gull
10 Goldfinch
11 Chaffinch
12 Lesser Black-backed Gull
13 Rook
14 Greenfinch
15 Magpie
16 Carrion Crow
17 Fieldfare
18 Redwing
19 Dunnock
20 Robin