bridge royd wood

 I’ll be away for a while and the bluebells might well be past their best by my return. They’re not quite there just yet but still a sight to behold at Bretton right now.

Warblers were keeping a low profile this morning with the Garden variety particularly scarce. Both Willow Warbler (above) and Chiffchaff seem well into their breeding cycle already – this bird was preoccupied with driving rivals from it’s territory whilst his mate sat tight in the brambles below.

The Great Crested Grebes have decided to build their nest on the site of last year’s – right in front of the hide - so another chance of obtaining cute family shots may well be possible after all. The Mute Swans too are incubating in a favoured spot, which keeps the male very busy dispersing the Canadas all over the lake – hilarious stuff!

hundred up

A typically brief encounter with a Woodcock this morning took my total number of bird species recorded at Bretton to one hundred. I don’t know which one of us was the more terrified as my right foot nearly squashed the invisible snoozing wader. By the time I’d regained my composure the bird was half way to the horizon –  so not even a record shot I’m afraid.

One of the three remaining Mute Swan cygnets on Upper Lake

Great Crested Grebe on Upper Lake

It was back to normal on the de-iced lakes and a dose of bright sunshine for an hour almost hinted at winter’s demise, but despite noting two separate pairs of Collared Doves nest building this week, it’s far from over.

Blue Tit by the Upper Lake hide

Tufted Ducks on Upper Lake

Todays Roll call: Great Crested Grebe (2), Grey Heron (2), Mute Swan (5), Mallard (15), Pochard (4), Tufted Duck (9), Moorhen (1), Coot ( 6), Blackheaded Gull (50+), Wood Pigeon (30+), Kingfisher (2), Great Spotted Woodpecker (2), Wren (2), Robin (2), Blackbird (25+), Mistle Thrush (1), Redwing (4), Long-tailed Tit (8+), Coal Tit (2), Blue Tit (6), Great Tit (6), Nuthatch (4), Treecreeper (1), Jay (2), Magpie (2), Jackdaw (30+), Rook ( 45+), Carrion Crow (3), Chaffinch (4), Goldfinch (3), Siskin (80+)

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

sunshine & peanut butter

The weather we should have been getting in July & August has finally arrived.  Personally I appreciate it more at this time of year when the light is less harsh and the temperature kept in check.

Daybreak from the bridleway at Middle Park

 

Someone’s been spreading peanut butter on the trees around the hide and whilst it looks pretty unsightly the tits and nuthatches were loving it. I might try this out myself though would need to overcome my phobia of the disgusting stuff before I could handle any! 

Great Tit & Nuthatch at Bretton Lakes YWT Reserve

The first Goosanders of the autumn had arrived since last weekend with three females showing distantly on Upper Lake. The birds will get closer to the hide as winter progresses so I won’t publish todays record shots.

Blue Tit & Mute Swan at Bretton Lakes YWT Reserve

The five Mute Swan youngsters are becoming bolder and have started to venture away from their parents. I always think of swan families as the most disciplined amongst birds. Rarely are the cygnets out of line but this one’s table manners could do to be addressed!

Lower Lake from Cascade Bridge