Tuesday, February 11, 2020

LOVE THIS!

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Watch LIVE from the CORNELL LAB OF ORNITHOLOGY

This FeederWatch cam is located in the Treman Bird Feeding Garden at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in Ithaca, New York. Perched on the edge of both Sapsucker Woods and its 10-acre pond, these feeders attract both forest species like chickadees and woodpeckers as well as some species that prefer open environments near water like Red-winged Blackbirds.

Friday, February 07, 2020

Lesser-spotted Woodpecker

☁️⛅️ 8C ~ Wind ⇐ SE@5mph  Friday 7th February 2020 ~ Out and about with Alan Boddington this morning in search of Lesser-spotted Woodpeckers. This is the best time to try and see them, particularly as the trees are bare and the woodpeckers are becoming territorial, betraying their presence by their distinctive call and drumming.

Wonderful to see & hear Lesser-spotted Woodpecker in Warwickshire this morning.
In fact, this was exactly how this bird was found when Alan heard and spotted the bird prior to my arrival. Unfortunately, it was spooked by a Great-spotted Woodpecker and he'd lost sight.

Lesser-spotted Woodpecker
Thankfully, a short time after we met up and began another search the bird began to drum and call once more, eventually offering some albeit brief but excellent views. Well done to Alan for the initial find but due to the scarcity and vulnerability of these birds, we've decided not to disclose the site!

Monday, February 03, 2020

Brandon Marsh / Borough Hill

☁️⛅️ 11C ~ Wind ⇐ W@14mph  Monday 3rd February 2020 ~ A mid-morning visit to Brandon Marsh produced of note (3) Oystercatcher, Great Egret, (3) Little Egret, (3) Shelduck, (2F) Goldeneye and Pochard on East Marsh Pool, while a wander around the woodlands had (3) Great-spotted Woodpecker, (2) Nuthatch, Marsh Tit and some small groups of finches containing several Lesser Redpoll and Siskin.

Siskin feeding on alder along the East Marsh path

Lesser Redpoll at Brandon Marsh ~ Smaller numbers than of previous years
With the wind dropping an excellent hour at Borough Hill, Daventry in the late afternoon produced at least three Short-eared Owls, Tawny Owl and on route home, a Barn Owl narrowly avoided the school bus roof I was driving behind as it suddenly appeared over the trees on the A425 near Skylark Farm Cafe!

Short-eared Owl at Borough Hill, Daventry

One of at least three Short-eared Owls today

Short-eared Owl, Borough Hill

A very entertaining hour at Borough Hill late afternoon