iced

 

Both lakes were iced over this morning after a perishing night. A thick covering of mist kept the sun at bay and so temperatures remained below freezing until at least noon.

Activity at the feeders was non-stop and frenzied with the largest number of Great & Blue Tits so far this winter. A Sparrowhawk was attracted by the melee but remained perched out of sight during most of my visit.

Poor visibility made a nonsense of my attempted wildfowl count so there are no figures worth posting this weekend.

a winter’s (long) tail

There was a real feel of winter about Bretton today as plummeting temperatures saw good numbers of the more vulnerable birds desperately feeding up to guard against the cold.

 

Fearless Long-tailed Tits were out in force this morning after a very cold night

Wildfowl species too are on the increase with three times as many Goosander as last week, though the Teal had mysteriously vanished.

Today’s Rollcall:Great Crested Grebe (14), Mute Swan (9), Canada Goose (70+), Goosander (68), Mallard (52), Tufted Duck (15), Pochard (3), Cormorant (1), Grey Heron (6), Kestrel (1), Coot (13), Moorhen (4), Pheasant (8), Black-headed Gull (100+), Wood Pigeon (60+), Kingfisher (1), Robin (5), Wren (3), Dunnock (1), Blackbird (10+), Redwing (30+), Mistle Thrush (1), Goldcrest (2), Long-tailed Tit (10+), Great Tit (8), Blue Tit (10+), Coal Tit (2), Nuthatch (3), Treecreeper (1), Carrion Crow (4), Rook (50+), Magpie (3), Jackdaw (50+), Chaffinch (7), Lesser Redpoll (1), Bullfinch (6) – RECORDED 22/11/08 @ 8.30AM – 11AM

Great & Coal Tits await their turn at the feeding station

waiting for winter

No sign of the Mandarins or for that matter the Great Spotted Woodpecker that’s been frequenting the hide feeders recently so I had to rely on the trees to bring a little colour to the diary this week.

This year’s cygnets are allowed out unaccompanied now - their parents were taking a well deserved break on Lower Lake this morning. 

November is traditionally the best month for finding the elusive Hawfinch in the park, but a search in less than ideal conditions drew a blank this morning. I’ve yet to get any photos of them here and indeed have only seen them in two of the last five years. 

Another species that hasn’t materialised so far this autumn is the Brambling. These Scandinavian birds can turn up in great numbers some years and the rusty tones of the males look right at home amongst the fallen Beech-mast at Bretton.    

Blackbird & Coot get amongst the autumn leaves

Goosander numbers continue to build (28+) though the birds are staying out of range for the time being. More drakes have been arriving this last couple of weeks and it shouldn’t be too long before they’re feeling at home enough to pose.  

Great & Coal Tits in the absence of anything more interesting

The feeders are still attracting the three commoner titmice but no visits yet from either Willow or Long-tailed Tit, both of which are resident. Perhaps when the weather gets a little colder, so in the meantime…

Today’s Rollcall: Little Grebe (2), Great Crested Grebe (1), Mute Swan (7), Canada Goose (80+), Goosander (28+), Mallard (40+), Tufted Duck (15+), Teal (1), Cormorant (4), Grey Heron (5), Sparrowhawk (1), Coot (10+), Moorhen (2), Pheasant (2), Black-headed Gull (100+), Wood Pigeon (80+), Stock Dove (1), Great Spotted Woodpecker (1), Grey Wagtail (1), Robin (2), Wren (1), Dunnock (1), Blackbird (10+), Redwing (50+), Mistle Thrush (2), Goldcrest (2), Long-tailed Tit (10+), Great Tit (5), Blue Tit (10+), Coal Tit (1), Jay (3), Carrion Crow (2), Rook (100+), Jackdaw (50+), Chaffinch (4), Bullfinch (3) – RECORDED 8/11/08 @ 8.30AM – 10.30AM