Croston Finney was crusted with beautiful ice formations sitting on top of the snow like a wonderful species of sparkly moss. Many of the waterways were frozen so gone were the ducks and cormorant and in their place - meadow pipits and pied wagtails. Really. They were all intently hunting on the ice.
The barn owl is still finding it difficult and once again I saw it still out hunting at 11am. The snipe must be finding it difficult to seek out unfrozen areas; I flushed two this morning - I've never seen them on The Finney before. The lapwing had abandoned feeding in flocks today and only a few were spotted - all singularly. The corn bunting however were still staying together; four alternating between wire and stubble. The crows, jackdaws and woodpigeon were much less numerous than last week. Other sightings included 2 yellow hammers, a buzzard, 2 wrens, stonechat, fieldfare, 3 song thrush, 1 mistle thrush and other garden birds.
Speaking of which, the allotment area was a riot of chirruping tree and house sparrows.
The barn owl is still finding it difficult and once again I saw it still out hunting at 11am. The snipe must be finding it difficult to seek out unfrozen areas; I flushed two this morning - I've never seen them on The Finney before. The lapwing had abandoned feeding in flocks today and only a few were spotted - all singularly. The corn bunting however were still staying together; four alternating between wire and stubble. The crows, jackdaws and woodpigeon were much less numerous than last week. Other sightings included 2 yellow hammers, a buzzard, 2 wrens, stonechat, fieldfare, 3 song thrush, 1 mistle thrush and other garden birds.
Speaking of which, the allotment area was a riot of chirruping tree and house sparrows.
Thanks to Chris Rae for sending the above photo of a corn bunting (a Spanish one).
7 comments:
yes now you mention it we've seen a fair number of pied wagtails on the ice, the grey wagtains seem to have disappeared though...
Yes Carol - I think owls must find it hard and probably need to hunt in the daylight too. I posted about mammals yesterday - surely every bird and mammal needs all the help it cam get from us while this weather lasts.
Its every bird for itself at the moment Carol.
Largely starlings and gulls here in the town...but a woodcock was spotted on the edge of Gower.
Carol.We unlike the birds can enjoy the current winter weather but it looks like the worst may be past and we can all look forward to Spring.
I am curious as to the location of Croston Finney ??? .. are you able to enlighten me, sounds like a nice area for a ramble.
Enjoy looking in on your website now and again Carol.
Mistle Thrush, why aren't you singing? Has the muse deserted you? I'm suffering from PDD (poetry deficiency disorder)
DM
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