A Definite Sign of Spring - Marshside 16/01/19

There was a strong south westerly wind today and it was very overcast. As walking was a little on the dodgy side I thought I would try a short visit to Marshside and see what I could see.

We had our first stop near Little Grey’s and I had a short walk round. It seemed pretty quiet overall. I did manage to pick up all of the usual little birds such as Robin, Wren, Tits, Dunnock, Blackbird etc but apart from that there was not much around. It was nice to see some catkins as they are a sure sign spring is coming. Two Common Buzzard were hanging in the wind over the far fields.

Catkins 

I had a short walk alongside one of the dykes in the hopes of seeing a Snipe but did not have any success. There were a couple of Meadow Pipit in the rough field and a Redwing flew out of one of the bushes

At Reynolds lane there was a little more activity with 15 House Sparrows, 25 Goldfinch, and lots of Blackbirds. A Green Woodpecker shot off from where it was sitting on a fence in the horse field but it was too quick to enable me to take a photo. Some Blue and Great Tits were enjoying a feeder that was in one of the gardens. A Pied Wagtail called.

I carried on down the main road and saw a Blackbird that had been enjoying some berries. It was very obscured by branches but I managed to get a nice view through a gap. A Robin also allowed a quick shot through a gap in the hedge. I was hoping to hear a Cetti’s calling but so far this year have still not managed to catch up with one.

Blackbird

Robin

A little further on a Bullfinch (74) was calling and then gave a brief view as it flew off. I would really have liked a photo but felt lucky to have seen it as it is a new bird for the year. A Song Thrush shot across and a Mistle Thrush was up on the telegraph wires. A Pheasant called but I did not have any luck with catching up with any partridge.

There were a large number of Fieldfare in the apple orchard, approximately 350 and also 60 Redwing. A couple of Chiffchaff were calling.

The weather had been steadily deteriorating and as it started with some pretty persistent rain I decided to head for home. It had been nice to be out though.

Birds seen this visit include: Blackbird, Wren, Robin, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Dunnock, Common Buzzard, Cormorant, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, 2 Meadow Pipit, 1 Redwing, House Sparrow, Goldfinch, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Pied Wagtail, Magpie, 2 Mute Swan, 1 Collared Dove, Mallard, Song Thrush, 2 Mistle Thrush, 7 Moorhen, 2 Chiffchaff