So we're into a new year of birding. Aside from the enjoyment of watching birds seen on a regular basis at Dove Stone, a few of the birding highlights of 2012 at Dove Stone have been a Red Kite at Dove Stone rocks, sightings of Osprey through the Chew Valley, Whooper Swans on Dove Stone res, the arrival of Cuckoo heard calling from Chew Piece, Kingfisher at Chew Brook, breeding Redstarts, Crossbills at Binn Green as well as elsewhere around the estate and Little Ringed Plover on Chew reservoir, to name just a few. I thought it might be fun to have a Dove Stone list, so starting it off today with the following sightings:
Up at Binn Green the feeding station has been full of activity with plenty of Coal Tit, Great Tit and Blue Tit, a group of around 20 to 30 Goldfinch in the Larch tops, Treecreeper, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Mistle Thrush, Jay, Blackbird, Robin, Pheasant, Chaffinch, Siskin and a Sparrowhawk which shot through the trees this afternoon. Elsewhere around Dove Stone: pretty quiet - a few Canada Geese and Mallards on the main reservoir alongside a good number of Black Headed Gulls, a large group of Jackdaws in fields by Bradbury's Farm and Nuthatch on the feeders in the main car park. That takes us up to 19. Hmmmm. I'm sure I'll be adding to that quite quickly...!
Dove Stone is quite well known for its population of Mountain Hare, which can be quite conspicuous at this time of year because of the winter pelage, however there are some Brown Hare at Dove Stone, one of which I saw today, so that was rather good.
A quick word on forthcoming events. This Sunday 13th is the third in our series of winter thrush surveys ( ie, Redwing and Fieldfare ) at Dove Stone. If you're interested in taking part, or finding out more about these birds and the surveys then drop-in to the main car park on Sunday morning at 11am.
And next weekend, on Friday 18th January starting at 6pm in the sailing club, it's the return of our astronomy night. The guys from MaccAstro will be with us again showing us stars, constellations, and planets through some pretty impressive scopes. There'll be short guided walks to take a look at the night sky with maybe a meteor or two if we're lucky. Plus we have a talk and slide show on the effects of light pollution on wildlife. So lots going on - should be good. Still haven't managed to book Brian Cox though ! More soon...