I haven't had a chance to be out for a little while so it was nice to be able to have a short wander this morning at Shuart even if it was pretty cold and very overcast. I watched for a little while to see if I could see a Barn Owl hunting but did not have any luck.
A Red-legged Partridge called as I started out and a couple of Green Woodpeckers were vocal as I made my way along the track. I could hear Blackbirds, and Great together with Blue Tits, alarm calling and the cause became clear when a Common Buzzard lifted off lazily from the back of the hedgerow, rising briefly into view before spotting me and dropping down and disappearing from sight, then moving off parallel to and behind the hedge. I could see a ring-tailed Hen Harrier hunting over the far fields before it too dropped down and reappeared much further off.
Coming up to a gap in the hedgerow a single distant goose was near the back of one of the fields. I was expecting it to be a White-front but was really pleased to see it was a Bean Goose. One had been seen in the area earlier in the month so it seemed likely that this was the same bird. The light levels were abysmal and the goose was really was too far off for a photo but I gave it a go and though I could only manage a very poor photo it makes a nice memory shot. The Bean Goose seen earlier in the month had been a Tundra but I wasn't sure if this one was actually a Taiga. Not having much experience with Bean Geese. I checked my books when I got home but still could not be sure so I sent a photo to Chris who confirmed it is Tundra so presumably is the same bird that has been seen previously. I was really pleased to catch up with it and it made getting frozen well worthwhile.
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| Tundra Bean Goose |
Good numbers of Blackbird were around as I made my way down the track and two small flocks of Fieldfare were in the hedgerow together with a couple of Redwing. A Stonechat gave a nice splash of colour as I reached the end of the hedgerow. I decided to start making my way back and a Cetti's Warbler was extremely vocal as I headed back. The walk back was fairly quiet but I enjoyed watching a small charm of Goldfinches. Coming up to one of the gaps in the hedgerow I could see a distant flock of 75 Lapwing, and even though they were a fair way away, they are always an attractive sight, and it made a nice end to the visit.
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| Lapwing |
Birds seen this visit included: 1 Red-legged Partridge, 14 Mute Swan, Herring Gulls, 2 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Dunnock, 3 Robin, 38 Blackbird, Blue Tits, Great Tits, 7 Chaffinch, Wood Pigeons, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 1 Ring-tailed Hen Harrier, 2 Wren, 1 Pheasant, Carrion Crows, 1 Tundra Bean Goose, 14 Fieldfare, 1 Song Thrush, 2 Magpie, 75 Lapwing, 2 Redwing, 1 Stonechat, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 8 Goldfinch
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