I would class my local patch as anything within about a mile of home, in particular the area to the north. The area is composed of fields, lanes, hedgerow, a small river, a SSSI area of flood meadow including an area of reeds, small woodland / carr and a sewage works.
I try to have a walk every week (not always possible) and maintain records for my own benefit, I will try and share some of these on this forum in future.
Over the years I have recorded the following species on my patch:-
Cormorant, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Egyptian Goose, Wigeon, Teal, Mallard, Pochard, Honey Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Kestrel, Red-legged Partridge, Grey Partridge, Pheasant, Water Rail, Moorhen, Crane, Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Snipe, Redshank, Green Sandpiper, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull,, Herring Gull, Common Tern, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Cuckoo, Barn Owl, Tawny Owl, Swift, Kingfisher, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Skylark, Swallow, House Martin, Meadow Pipit, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Stonechat, Blackbird, Fieldfare, Song Thrush, Redwing, Mistle Thrush, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Goldcrest, Spotted Flycatcher, Long-tailed Tit, Marsh Tit, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Treecreeper, Jay, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Starling, House Sparrow, Tree Sparrow, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Siskin, Linnet, Redpoll, Bullfinch, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting
Roe deer and Muntjac are also quite common, plenty of rabbits, hares, grey squirrel, the occasional fox, I have even seen Otter on the river (also the unwelcome mink). In summer the meadows are alive with butterfles and dragonflies and I will update with individual species in due course.
"Feed the birds, tuppence a bag" Mary Poppins
Hi,
there were an awful lot of Pinkfeet moving about on the 27th in north west Norfolk, Sculthorpe is due south of Holkham and I see them Sculthorpe reserve occasionally, and I assume you can't be that far away :)
S
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seymouraves said:I see them Sculthorpe reserve occasionally, and I assume you can't be that far away :)
Only about 10 miles as the crow..............................sorry, as the goose flys.
The enormous flocks of these geese are well known along the North Norfolk coast, especially Snettisham, Scolt Head Island, and Holkham where they roost at night then feed in the sugar beet fields, obviously we are well catered for with sugar beet fields with two massive processing plants in Norfolk and one not far over the border in Suffolk. Many of the farmers along the coast leave the beet tops laying to allow the birds to feed on them (this also protects other crops) but as the beet harvest comes to a close and fields are being ploughed for other crops it is possible that these birds are searching further inland for food, which could explain their presence.
ND
The weekend floods did attract a few more visitors in the end, the Greylag Geese and Mallards were joined by 5 Canada Geese and a few Wigeon.
Since then the weather has been fine and dry (even if somewhat cold) and has a feel of spring, a Yellowhammer has been seen singing in the lane, also Reed Bunting and Green Woodpecker have been heard.
7 Mar
Well! Before I had even set foot outside the door this morning Mrs Dipper had already seen bird of the day, driving back from a night shift in Norwich (Mrs D is a nurse) she stopped to watch the small group of Waxwings that were close to the hospital, apparently there were great views in the fine bright morning light, Mrs D was spitting (waxwing) feathers that she hadn't taken the camcorder or camera with her.
So back to the local patch, couldn't quite match the stunning waxwings, but it was a fantastic bright morning, cold but definitely a feel of spring about it, highlights of the day (compensation for missing out on the Waxwings,...........I'm not bitter, honestly,.............I'm not,......not at all,.....not in the slightest.....) were a green sandpiper on the sewage works and again on the river. O.k, not as striking as the Waxwings (did I mention I wasn't bitter about the.....) but quite a rare visitor, although this is quite a good site and usually get a few sightings every winter especially when it is freezing.
Other highlights were 7 Snipe feeding in the flood meadows, although they were quite distant this was the best view on the patch, usually just see them whiz away when disturbed to land out of sight somewhere in the distance, the spring feel to the day was enhanced by the singing of a male reed Bunting, although they are brown, white and black they are very attractive birds, almost as striking as a waxwing!!
Whilst working in the garden later in the day I was visited by 8 Dunnocks, I tend to think of them as being a bit more solitary, usually only see 2 - 3 at a time at the most, as far as I can remember I have never seen 8 together anywhere before,...............would I have preferred to see 8 Waxwings in the garden though........??
10 Mar
A surprise visitor in the garden this morning was a male Bullfinch, we do get the very occasional Bullfinch visit the garden, but this chap checked out all the hanging feeders before deciding that the one containing sunflower hearts was the best, this is the first time that I have seen a Bullfinch feed from a hanging feeder.
Unfotunately I didn't have time to get the camera set up, and Mrs Dipper had just got the camcorder when he departed!
That was a good start to your day ND. I know you said you weren't bothered about not seeing the waxwing, so I guess seeing the bullfinch was better??? Our visiting bullfinch eats the sunflower hearts from the feeder.
Nice one, and shame about the camera.
Cheers, Linda.
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Unknown said: That was a good start to your day ND. I know you said you weren't bothered about not seeing the waxwing, so I guess seeing the bullfinch was better??? Our visiting bullfinch eats the sunflower hearts from the feeder.
Did I mention the Waxwings :-)
Never really associate Bullfinches with bird feeders, tend to be very shy birds. I have seen them at Sculthorpe Moor visiting the bird table to feed, but then as they say 'necessity is the mother of invention'
19 March
Late for work this morning,..............had to blame the traffic,........and absolutely nothing to do with standing in the back bedroom watching 3 Lapwing display over the field behind the house. As much as we love to see these birds so close to the house it is unlikley that the large crop field will provide a suitable nest site this year, a couple of years back when this field was left uncultivated a pair of Lapwings nested there. We were able to scope the nest location from the back bedroom and were lucky enough to see 2 fluffy chicks fledge, a few weeks later we saw a pair with 2 'larger' chicks and would love to think that these were 'our' Lapwing family.
Haven't had much time to check out the patch over the last couple of weeks, what with work and then a family holiday, managed a quick look about on Sunday morning and was pleased to hear the Chiffchaffs back on their territories (at least 2 singing males), the Reed Bunting was also singing and there were 3 Skylarks above the field.
Speaking of holiday, we spent 5 Days in Disneyland Paris, wouldn't think there would be much in the line of birds there but actually it was very good. Several ducks and other water birds on the lakes and ponds (and I don't mean just Donald Duck), Mallards and Canada Geese are nesting around Big Thunder Mountain rollercoaster and one (male?) was protecting it's nest by chasing off the paddle steamer that sails round the island!! Lots of House Sparrows as many of the sets and building are designed to look 'rustic' with loose roof tiles and holes in walls which make ideal nest sites and a ready supply of food from visitors, ironically although we think of theme parks as busy places which some of these bird species don't mind in fact they are desserted for half of the day. Also various Tits, finches, blackbirds etc near the hotels.