January 2011 - New Years Day Birding

Saturday 1st: The first day of the New Year is traditionally a day when "Birders" get out and about for those first ticks of the year! This one is no different. A cold and wet day with the promise of sporadic rain shows... great! For Sandra and myself, it started with a drive down to Sheffield in search of those elusive Waxwings! Unfortunately when we got there at 10am, there were none to be seen, though Sandra did see a small flock of birds through her binoculars that may have been a group of Waxwings though we couldn't confirm this as I had left my binoculars in the car! A walk around Abbeydale constantly searching the leafless trees and skies did not reveal any of these birds. Though a small group of Long-tailed Tits did provide our first sighting of the year! A Robin, Carrion Crows and half-a-dozen Wood Pigeons added to that tally.

So a trip out towards Redmires Reservoir and towards the Peak District. We didn't actually get to the Reservoir but a sighting of flocks of Fieldfares by Sandra in fields at the roadside necessitated a short road side stop to view them and take photos. Sandra was thrilled as this was a FIRST for her and the first time that I have seen more that one Fieldfare! There were loads of them! We estimated that there could be circa 60 after I did a quick count. As can be seen in a photo above, but not seen by us at the time is a Redwing. Redwings will often join Fieldfares in large flocks. The light rain was constant throughout the day wherever we went and annoying.

Driving on, we ended-up at a small NR called Rivelin. A small secluded car park with picnic area and two small ponds surrounded by trees. Six drake and seven duck Mallards occupied the frozen ponds, a few Long-tailed tits in the trees and a couple of Robins. But a Wren seemed interested in me and landed on the wooden fence just 4 feet away and sang to me. I was so close I could even see it's throat moving as it sang. Of course for reasons I shan't go into, my camera was in the car so no photo of this friendly Wren.

On to Thryburgh Country Park near Rotherham. As with other locations, ice was prevalent here with large swathes of the lake frozen. Mallards, Black-headed Gulls and Common Coots were in very large numbers and flocked around anyone who went near the waters' edge in the hope of food. The Swan Goose was still there and I noticed a tag on it's leg. A lone Great-Crested Grebe in winter plumage, (as Sandra pointed-out) was out on the water.

Before we embarked on a trek around the Park, someone,presumably a Park Ranger came with a huge bucket and threw bread and other food to the flock. From all sides; Canada Geese, Coots, Mallards and inevitably the Gulls rushed to grab their own piece of food. This was when I photographed the Coot below, looking suitably satisfied with itself have just eaten! Look at those huge feet!

In the trees on the bank of the lake were Goldfinches and Chaffinches. We walked over to the hide and there we were treated to a flock feeding at the bird table and peanut feeder of Tree Sparrows, with a few Blue Tits, Great Tits and the one Yellowhammer.

Seeing Tree Sparrows here was a surprise to me because although Thryburgh is in the countryside and surrounded by fields, a town, Rotherham was only a few miles away.

Time was short, it was 3:30pm and darkness would fall by 4pm. The lake didn't look that large an area so we decided to have a quick walk around it back to the car. Well, to cut a long story short, apart from it being very muddy and wet, we saw no more birds! We got to the other side of the lake and were forced to back-track!

It turned-out that a huge fence was blocking off the footpath and it was locked too! Too high to climb so we had no choice, we had to back track, the way we came! The race was on! Get back to the car before it gets dark and the main gate is locked!

A quick march back got us to the car in the gathering gloom. All other cars and people had already departed. The Tea Shop was locked! Thankfully the gate was not locked and we did get home for our respective dinners. I've done some things while out birding, but almost getting locked-in at a site is crazy!!