I had hoped to do my first bird list for the year but with the temperature of -2 it was not the best day to start recording.
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Despite the sunshine and four layers of clothing it was to cold even for me....
The most bird spotted was the male Blackbird rummaging the the leaves looking for bugs.
Blackbird is an omnivore (it eats plants and meat). Its diet is based on insects, worms, slugs, seed, fruit and berries. Blackbird occasionally eats small amphibians and lizards.
Some subspecies of blackbirds are able to mimic sounds of cats, humans and other birds. They also produce various alarm calls to alert other members of the group about upcoming danger.
There is a areas still covered in a small amount of snow were the sun has not reached, on Kirk Lane park good numbers of Goldfinch can be heard deep among the trees next to the bowling green.
Trees along the football pitch mainly Birch, to the right of these trees that line the entrance to the park.
With a small hedge of Hawthorn, these Silver Birch trees with their catkins are a good feeding spot for the smaller birds. A odd Blue tit was spotted but this pair of Coal tits were making a lot of fuss .
Only weighing 8 to 10 grams and about 11 cm long you have to wonder how these small birds survive the winter.
(i was soooo cold )
I did spot a male Bullfinch near the boggy bit , where the Willow trees grow, no photo.
Carrion crow
The good new so far this year is that " Mummy" swan has returned with a new male, sadly here mate died last year (reason un-known) . The Friends of Nunroyd Park group looked after her, by feeding and bringing in new nesting material. I think she was on three eggs and managed to successfully raise two of them on her own. The group were very excited to see her return. The leg tag confirms it is the same bird.
The wind howled across the pond and my face has stopped responding, I walked back onto Kirk Lane and called at the cafe, I need to call here more often it was lovely.
Bird list for today
House Sparrow
Blackbird
Goldfinch
Wood Pigeon
Carrion Crow
Blue tit
Coal tit
Mallard
Mute swan
Bullfinch
Black headed-gull
Super post Amanda. Were you using your new camera? Love the black and white photos in particular but they are all lovely. It was cold today but it was colder near you!! Coffee and food look appetising :)
ReplyDeleteGood to hear swan has returned with a new mate. I am sure I read somewhere they mate for life?? Glad you managed to get out despite the freezing conditions!
Thank for the lovely comment, yes swans mate for life so it was sad when he died last year. Not sure if the new swan is ringed, will check on group page.
DeleteHopefully it will warm up a little next week, and I was using my new camera.
It looks lovely and wintry (of course the min temps were probably not so lovely!) I saw on Facebook the swan had a mate, fingers crossed he sticks around. Coal Tits are lovely little birds, my daughters favourite, we have a pair that visit the garden almost daily :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Pam, for the lovely comment.looks like the the new male came from the dam, will be interesting to see if anything happens this year.
ReplyDeleteI to am very lucky to have Coal tits in the garden, have seen a few Bulfinch about so hoping they return to the garden as well.