coalie

Many of the Grey Herons are now paired up and are starting to repair their nests after the battering they received this winter.  The next few weeks will see a hive of activity around both heronries providing plenty of opportunities for hopefully some dramatic pictures. But in the meantime this Coal Tit was the only success in a truncated visit to the park this morning.

feeding frenzy

A bitterly cold night should have meant plenty of action around the feeders this morning, but stocks had run dry and it was just lucky I had a bag of mixed seed in my bag.

Within minutes it was mayhem. Three Grey Squirrels took the lion’s share but a visiting Great Spotted Woodpecker got a look in, and stayed just long enough for me to grab a pic or two.

Too quick for the camera though was a Sparrowhawk strike that nearly reduced the Jackdaw population by one. Unfortunatley for the large female sprawk, every corvid in the park came to the rescue and the lucky victim narrowly escaped during the scrum.

Todays Roll call: Great Crested Grebe (1), Grey Heron (6), Mute Swan (1), Canada Goose (20+), Teal (7), Mallard (23), Pochard (3), Tufted Duck (13), Goosander (5), Pheasant (1), Coot (10+), Lapwing (3), Blackheaded Gull (100+), Sparrowhawk (1), Wood Pigeon (130+), Stock Dove (3), Kingfisher (2), Green Woodpecker (1), Great Spotted Woodpecker (5), Wren (2), Dunnock (1), Robin (2), Blackbird (20+), Mistle Thrush (1), Song Thrush (1), Redwing (1),  Coal Tit (2), Blue Tit (4), Great Tit (6), Nuthatch (3), Jay (3), Jackdaw (100+), Rook ( 75+), Carrion Crow (5), Chaffinch (2)

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+)

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

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

cold snap

Wildfowl numbers have increased sharply with the onset of colder weather. Sixteen Goosander (15 girls and just the one boy) have assembled on Lower Lake whilst three drake Mandarin (below) are doing their best to brighten things up on the smaller water.

Three Cormorants are still present on the dead trees at Upper Lake and the two drake Pochards continue by Cascade Bridge. A handful of Teal did a fly-by and Tufted Duck numbers are rising on both lakes. 

  

Blue Tits by far outnumber other species around the hide at the moment. The birds are particularly sprightly now their moults are complete – this one was even doing his rocking dance complete with raised crest for the camera!

Today’s Rollcall: Little Grebe (4), Mute Swan (7), Goosander (16), Mallard (60+), Tufted Duck (35+), Teal (5), Pochard (2), Mandarin (3), Cormorant (3), Grey Heron (10+), Coot (30+), Moorhen (3), Pheasant (9), Grey Partridge (6), Black-headed Gull (100+), Kingfisher (1), Robin (3), Wren (2), Blackbird (2), Mistle Thrush (1), Goldcrest (2), Great Tit (2), Blue Tit (6), Jay (8), Carrion Crow (6), Rook (25+), Jackdaw (10+), Chaffinch (1)

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

 

at summer’s end

September is arguably the most spectacular month at Bretton with it’s unique combination of light and colour. But for the naturalist, with flora dying back and migrant birds departing, it’s a quiet place - a place in limbo, waiting for those first frosts to finally put paid to the summer. The woodland is almost devoid of birdsong now - only the territorial Robin and ebullient Wren keep their voices in battle-readiness for the winter struggle.

Nuthatch & Coal Tit at Bretton Lakes YWT Reserve

From under the thinning canopy, acorns are released without the assistance of even the slightest breeze to rain painfully down on the unsuspecting. Ripening beech-mast attracts hundreds if not thousands of itinerant Woodpigeons whilst resident grey squirrels work ceaselessly in an attempt to harvest enough of the bounty for the dark months ahead. And thankfully it’s once more time to go to the park armed with a rather more exotic source of nutrition as moulting tits and finches change their dietary requirements due to the increasing lack of protein on the menu. A mixed bag of ground seed from the supermarket does the trick and despite warm, still conditions this morning they were queuing up for the stuff! A couple of natural perches just outside the hide are ideal for birds waiting their turn and photos too of course.

Kingfisher at Bretton Lakes YWT Reserve

It wasn’t long before Nuthatches plus Coal, Blue & Great Tits were joining me for a spot of breakfast indoors. A Wood Mouse and Common Shrew paid brief visits today, though as ever were too quick for me. Both species are frequently to be found in and around the hide at this time of year as the brambles growing along side are a decent source of fruit and insects.  

Dunnock & Little Grebe at Bretton Lakes YWT Reserve

Two drake Pochards were recently arrived, representing the first of hopefully many wintering fowl. Teal, Gadwall, Shoveler and of course Goosander should be putting in some time here over the coming weeks and with any luck a repeat performance from last year’s Mandarin. Also on the lake the Kingfishers continue to entertain and seem to love their newly created perch. Little Grebes are at their most numerous right now with this year’s offspring venturing much nearer the hide than their worldly-wise parents dare.