Saturday 24 March 2012

RSPB The Lodge

The fog had mostly cleared by the time we reached Sandy. No sign of the Black Redstarts but I heard my first singing Chiffchaff of the year.

Highlights: Siskin, Nuthatch, Coal Tit, Chiffchaff (heard only), Green Woodpecker (heard only), Great-Spotted Woodpecker.

Great-Spotted Woodpecker
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Great-Spotted Woodpecker

Ashwell

The thick fog made it virtually impossible to get any decent photots. No sign of the Wheatears again.

Highlights: Corn Bunting, Yellowhammer, Kestrel, Buzzard, Pied Wagtail, Red-Legged Partridge, Lapwing.

Friday 23 March 2012

Ashwell

Highlights: Corn Bunting, Grey Partridge, Red-Legged Partridge, Skylark, Lapwing.

Corn Bunting (one of about 20) - only my 2nd ever record.
Corn Bunting
Corn Bunting

Sunday 18 March 2012

Broadstairs, Kent

Highlights: Purple Sandpiper, Fulmar, Rock Pipit, Brent Goose, Ring-Necked Parakeet, Turnstone, Oystercatcher, Mistle Thrush (en route).

Purple Sandpiper
Purple Sandpiper
Purple Sandpipers
Fulmar
Fulmar
Fulmar
Fulmars
Rock Pipit
Brent Geese

Friday 16 March 2012

RSPB Fowlmere

Highlights: Hen Harrier (female), Grey Heron, Fieldfare, Wren.

Hen Harrier
Hen Harrier

Sunday 11 March 2012

Hyde Park

Highlights: Tawny Owl, Egyptian Goose Gosling, Mandarin, Green Woodpecker, Great-Crested Grebe, Ring-Necked Parakeet, Song Thrush.

Tawny Owl - male having a snooze in the midday sun whilst the female was on the nest in the tree. The young should arrive in a couple of weeks.
Tawny Owl
Tawny Owl
Egyptian Goose Gosling
Egyptian Geese
Egyptian Goose Gosling
Egyptian Geese
Mandarin - the first I've ever photographed
Mandarin
Green Woodpecker
Green Woodpecker
Green Woodpecker
Great-Crested Grebe
Great-Crested Grebe

Regents Park

Highlights: Red-Crested Pochard, Ring-Necked Parakeet, Grey Heron.

Red-Crested Pochard (seen in flight first, so definitely wild)
Grey Heron
Grey Herons
Whooper Swan

Garden

Not the best photos, but more of a glimpse of the photos I should hopefully get over the next few months...

Male Bullfinch
Female Bullfinch

Saturday 10 March 2012

RSPB Fowlmere

Highlights: Linnet, Pied Wagtail, Fieldfare, Common Snipe, Reed Bunting, Grey Heron.

We sat in a hide for over an hour in the hope of seeing at least one of the two roosting Hen Harriers. We missed the first by ten minutes and the second didn't turn up.

Linnet

Garden

Good views of three Buzzards circling from the garden this morning (I saw my first Buzzard from the house only a few days ago). The male and female Bullfinches have been seen regularly on the feeders since their arrival last week.  I have not yet seen the female Great-spotted Woodpecker again since last week, but here's a photo of the male today...

Male Great-Spotted Woodpecker

















Dunnock

Sunday 4 March 2012

Bullfinches and Woodpeckers

Great news! A pair of bullfinches were on the feeders and flying around the garden this morning. Also, a female Great-Spotted Woodpecker was seen in the garden for the first time this year, in addition to the regular male visitor.