Marston Vale Millennium Country Park Report, 30th January 2010

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It was a very cold frosty morning today, and ‘yes’ it was time for the thermal underwear once more.  It was good that the weather was dry and sunny.  If it was raining it would have been not nice at all.

We past by the large Rookery on the A421, and drove towards the major ‘bypass’ close to the major road works.  I was surprised to see so many Rooks huddled together in the Tree Canopy.  I wonder if it is the cold that is making them stay together for the sake of feeding in the local fields.  The frost was very heavy and sharp so thinking ahead the wildlife would find it hard find their natural food this morning.  Yes, thank goodness for garden feeders – we love our birds.  They deserve a bit of moral support anytime from people.

We arrived at Marston Vale and sat in the car at the ‘closed’ gates along with a few other people.  So it looked although that a few people had turned up for the morning walk about.  At least the frosty weather had not put people off at all.  Maybe it encouraged them instead.  Wet weather is a lot more difficult to deal with when bird watching, over dry frosty weather any day

At the car park, a resident Robin took it upon himself to entertain us with his lovely song.  A group of people had arrived and now we set of at 8am in the morning.  The first place we went to was the sewage works.  We where told that Wagtails like to reside there – both Pied and Grey have been noted to reside in this area of the park.  Sadly there was no sign of them this morning at the Sewage Works.

We walked towards Marston Corner and stopped off to look over the water with the Stewartby chimneys in full view.  It was already noted that there are Great Northern Divers there.  The birds dived continuously.  Everyone in the group stopped in their tracks to their tracks to look through their binoculars at the birds.  Luckily there where scopes around.  I got some pictures of the Great Northern Diver and the pictures was taken through the scope.  One of the group leaders knew how to do take photographs in this manner, so that was quite interesting to see. I have never tried to take pictures with the camera connected onto the scope before.  Will look a bit more into the possibilities of the camera we have.  Still a lot to learn at digital equipment yet!  All comes with experience and being outdoors with the subject close at hand – nothing like it!!.

On our way we passed another Robin and a Blackbird who made their presence known to us in the bushes nearby.  A Male Bullfinch sat in the tree nearby and gave a great display for us, so we had a chance to see him though the scope.

A Chiffchaff made an appearance.   There was no resounding familiar calls from the resident Chiffchaff {so puzzled about it all}   A dreary Chiffchaff call was noted which only an experienced ear would pick up.  I have a picture of the bird as he ate seeds of the Alder Trees.

A Red Poll made an appearance and he was very beautiful to see thought the scope once more.  A Yaffle  from closeby drew our attention to a Green Woodpecker.  There seemed to be one or two around making their presence known to us as we walked about.

Not to say there was any shortage of Great Spotted Woodpecker’s.  They where around with their three tone call while they flying above us.  A Song Thrush made an appearance, and sat on a nearby branch for a while, and that was nice to see.   The song Thrushes feathers shone in the sun. I noticed that the birds appeared not to be too active as the weather was very cold and chilly indeed.

We made our way to hide one.  The first thing that was noted was their where two Mink shuffling around  the shore line, continually bobbing in between the wildfowl.  Lots of Lapwings moved about the area.   The Minks where easy to see though the scope but they moved very quickly. It was more of a glimpse than anything.

Lots of Black Headed Gulls, Mute Swans, and Tufted Ducks where about in their large groups.  Not much variety in the first hide.   As we walked to the second hide a group of Long Tail Tits moved about in one of the mature trees.  The little calls where easy to identify, and we watched them for a few minutes as they went on their way.

We moved on towards the second hide, and there seemed to be more birds of interest there instead.  Once again, lots of Tufted Ducks, a smaller group of Teals, and Pochard showed up well.  The sun has come out and the colouration of the Teal and Pochard iridescent head feathers shone in the sunlight.  Great to see.

Then we noted up to 4 Bullfinches directly outside the hide windows.  Great to see this bird once more, after previous sightings.  Some bird feeders where in view and little Blue Tits, Great Tits and Coal Tits where feeding with gusto.  Part of the waterway was frozen with ice and the surface was solid.  The birds managed to work their way around the issue as they do.

We moved on towards Stewartby Lake, and looked over to see Little Grebes, a few Cormorants, Heron, and lots of Common Gulls.  A Sparrowhawk sat in the Tree in the distance preening himself.

While walking along the pathway back to the visitors Centre, we caught a sighting of a Weasel – gosh they can move fast.  There were remains of a Lapwing’s feathers on the ground …Suspect Sparrowhawk wanting a meal and he left a pile of feathers.  So there was traits of Sparrowhawk as they  never to leave anything at all.  The kill looked fresh.

As we walked along a Partridge became very upset at our presence, and he made quite a racket to show what he thought of us.

We could see a Buzzard in the trees to the right of us.  He was having a bit of a relax there and was  not going to move in a rush.  Then another view of a Sparrowhawk flying overhead once more.  Great to see all in slow motion.

We made our way back and I could hear some twitterings form a Pied Wagtail.  They where flying above our heads.  We walked by the small area of water by the visitors Centre and past a lone Mute Swan sitting on the water.

A cup of coffee and a sit down was in order and that was the end of our trip out.  A friendly Mute Swan came close to the café.  Yes, he looked quite tame.  I really enjoyed it a whole lot.  Must do it again sometime – in April with the next walk out and about.

Pictures next

Regards

Kathy and Dave