goldie

Unfortunately Goldfinches are not regular visitors to the feeders yet but they are frequently encountered around the sheep fields and horse paddocks bordering the park.

Small flocks or ‘charms’ roam the rough pasture land in search of weed seeds at this time of year,  sometimes hooking up with Redpolls and Siskins to exploit the lakeside alder mast.

bullfinch

Although plentiful throughout the park Bullfinches are notoriously difficult to get close to. However during spells of bitterly cold weather they will occasionally take the easy option and show up at peanut feeders.

This bird was able to collect crumbs from the edge of a feeder without alighting - expertly hovering just long enough to grab a beakful.

barney

One of my favourite individuals at Bretton is Barney the feral Barnacle Goose. He hangs out with the Canadas through the winter months and can usually be found near the hall or grazing the fields of Middle Park. Several geese of other species, in particular Greylag and Pink-foot – and last winter a hybrid Emperor, have joined the herd in recent years but never stick around for long. Barney on the other hand loves Bretton and it will be a sad day when he’s no longer strutting around these elegant grounds. 

Much of Upper Lake remains frozen meaning very little wildfowl interest but the feeders around the hide continue to do brisk business. A newcomer this morning was this very shy female Siskin. Only present for a minute or so the bird never plucked up enough courage to come out of the rhododendron so this was as good a view as I could manage. Nice to see an unfamiliar face though!

Today’s Rollcall: Mute Swan (7), Canada Goose (75+), Barnacle Goose (1), Goosander (12), Mallard (31), Shoveler (3), Tufted Duck (6), Teal (4),  Grey Heron (2),  Coot (11), Moorhen (2), Pheasant (1), Black-headed Gull (70+), Wood Pigeon (10+), Kingfisher (2), Robin (2), Wren (2), Dunnock (2), Blackbird (4), Great Tit (4), Blue Tit (4), Coal Tit (1), Nuthatch (3),  Jay (2), Carrion Crow (4), Rook (5), Magpie (3), Jackdaw (45+), Chaffinch (1), Siskin (2), Bullfinch (2) – RECORDED 6/12/08 @ 8.30AM – 11AM