Yesterday i blogged about the awful weather stopping me from surveying my Winter Thrush squares amongst other things. Well, this morning saw a sort of break in the weather in that at least it just about stayed dried - if still very windy.
I drove down to a spot nr Leedstown for my randomly selected core square only to find all the footpaths in the area so overgrown they were impassable. As much as i hate to say it, i had to abandon the effort. A quick drive home and i decided to survey one of my own squares around the village.
Up onto Laity Moor, the rain just about held off, the wind blew strongly and the Thrushes were - non existent. Dropping down towards the village a group of Starling (57) were picked up followed by a larger flock (120) behind the village shop. Both flocks were feeding on the ground on pastoral land with livestock. And that, unfortunately was about it.
Thrushes recorded -
Starling - 206
Blackbird - 14
Not a single Fieldfare, Redwing or Song Thrush was seen or heard anywhere.
A similar area surveyed on 1st January 2011 for the 2007-2011 Atlas in much colder temperatures gave -
Starling - 55
Blackbird - 34
Fieldfare - 17
Redwing - 155
Song Thrush - 10
Hopefully my other square will produce something tomorrow weather permitting.
Showing posts with label Winter Thrush survey. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Winter Thrush survey. Show all posts
Friday, 28 December 2012
Thursday, 27 December 2012
Christmas birding
is non existent in the West country.
I finished work on Friday 21st with intentions of visiting my two Winter thrush survey squares, my core square for the same survey, a visit to Hells Mouth to count returning Fulmar from their moult and the local patch to look for newly arrived Goosander. The weather has put paid to all this so far.
Strong winds and heavy rain have seen me confined to barracks for 5 days managing only to get out this afternoon for a walk down the road with the wife for an hour. The weather has however given plenty of opportunity to watch the garden feeders, the last few days giving record counts of Magpie (5), Chaffinch (8), Dunnock (3) and ahem - Jackdaw (28). A Bullfinch appeared, nice male and only the second record for the garden, the first one coming in July 2011.
Hopefully the weather will improve shortly before i miss surveying my core square completely.
I finished work on Friday 21st with intentions of visiting my two Winter thrush survey squares, my core square for the same survey, a visit to Hells Mouth to count returning Fulmar from their moult and the local patch to look for newly arrived Goosander. The weather has put paid to all this so far.
Strong winds and heavy rain have seen me confined to barracks for 5 days managing only to get out this afternoon for a walk down the road with the wife for an hour. The weather has however given plenty of opportunity to watch the garden feeders, the last few days giving record counts of Magpie (5), Chaffinch (8), Dunnock (3) and ahem - Jackdaw (28). A Bullfinch appeared, nice male and only the second record for the garden, the first one coming in July 2011.
Hopefully the weather will improve shortly before i miss surveying my core square completely.
Saturday, 1 December 2012
SW6638 Winter Thrush survey
Clear sky and moderate frost this morning when i woke up so a good opportunity to survey the outskirts of the village.
Once again very quiet, a quick check of my BTO 2007-2011 Atlas records may have the answer - it's still to early down here in west Cornwall.
Thrushes seen were -
Fieldfare 0
Redwing 40
Blackbird 33
Song Thrush 3
Starliing 161
Compare with my Atlas records of 550+ Redwing in the same area on Dec 30th 2011. One bird of note which i will try to go back tomorow to look at properly was the Robin who's red breast extended over the top of its head.
The walk also brought about my 20,000th record on the BTO's online recording system Birdtrack
Once again very quiet, a quick check of my BTO 2007-2011 Atlas records may have the answer - it's still to early down here in west Cornwall.
Thrushes seen were -
Fieldfare 0
Redwing 40
Blackbird 33
Song Thrush 3
Starliing 161
Compare with my Atlas records of 550+ Redwing in the same area on Dec 30th 2011. One bird of note which i will try to go back tomorow to look at properly was the Robin who's red breast extended over the top of its head.
The walk also brought about my 20,000th record on the BTO's online recording system Birdtrack
Sunday, 25 November 2012
Insulted on the Winter Thrush survey
finally after weeks of waiting spare time and reasonable weather came together to enable me to start the BTO Winter Thrush survey around the village
The first part of the walk produced very little, moderately strengthed wind probably not assisting. Having walked across the top road and back into the village it was time to check behind the village shop etc.
Walking on the outskirts of the estate with bins around the neck and a clipboard in hand a vulnerable resident (one legged) driving a mobility scooter asked if i would open his gate. No problem to which i did then offered assistance to get him into his house which wasnt needed. Feeling proud of doing a simple good deed as i turned to leave he asked me what i was selling. I felt like saying binoculars! Anyway one mustn't be rude so a simple explanation from me, a confused look from him, it was time to leave.
After weeks of waiting i managed to see 6 Redwing, 2 Fieldfare and 1 Song Thrush- weeks of waiting for that (oh and a few Starling)......
With enough time left to complete a second square i filled out the details on the record sheet and stupidly put no rain - 10 minutes later it poured down, ending the second survey before it started.
The first part of the walk produced very little, moderately strengthed wind probably not assisting. Having walked across the top road and back into the village it was time to check behind the village shop etc.
Walking on the outskirts of the estate with bins around the neck and a clipboard in hand a vulnerable resident (one legged) driving a mobility scooter asked if i would open his gate. No problem to which i did then offered assistance to get him into his house which wasnt needed. Feeling proud of doing a simple good deed as i turned to leave he asked me what i was selling. I felt like saying binoculars! Anyway one mustn't be rude so a simple explanation from me, a confused look from him, it was time to leave.
After weeks of waiting i managed to see 6 Redwing, 2 Fieldfare and 1 Song Thrush- weeks of waiting for that (oh and a few Starling)......
With enough time left to complete a second square i filled out the details on the record sheet and stupidly put no rain - 10 minutes later it poured down, ending the second survey before it started.
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