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)

autumn colour

A flat, grey and birdless start to the day again but the sun got out eventually, making the most of the wonderful colour that transforms the park at this time of year.

Lack of activity around the hide meant a serch for subjects elsewhere this morning. Bretton has always been a good site for fungi in autumn and some fine examples of the bracket variety were adorning many Silver Birch around the west end of Upper Lake. 

kingfisher brightens wet bretton

Eighteen hours continuous rain meant a muddy tramp around Bretton this morning. The emergence of a little sunshine around lunchtime was cause for some celebration as a few of the residents began to appear.

 

Kingfisher

 A male Kingfisher and fiesty Wren were the most obvious and least camera-shy of the visitors to the hide. Last week’s peanut butter had vanished, to the dismay of a skulking female Blackcap - I must remember to bring some next time. 

Wren & Autumn Leaves

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