December 2011: Grey Wagtail frequently visits our garden.

Wednesday 14th: It was near dark outside when the Grey Wagtail came to the pond in our back garden. In fact, the time was recorded as 3:54pm! Mel grabbed these shots of the Wagtail again on the pond reeds. It does seem to like the pond and as it's near dark, I suspect that the bird is roosting a short distance away.

January 2012 - Great Grey Shrike and Whooper Swans!

Sunday 8th: Out and about again to see the Great Grey Shrike. After parking the car and talking with birders who had seen the bird earlier in the morning, I faced a 40 minute walk to it's location. Apparently the bird had been caught in a mist-net earlier and was identified as a Shrike that was ringed at Spurn last year. For more details on this go to the Doncaster Birding Blog. Here you will find a detailed discussion on it's race and some lovely photos.

Looking at it through a scope offered great close views and the familiar black mask across its eyes stood-out immediately. The bird appeared to be fluffed-up when I saw it, probably still had a strop after being caught! A Great Grey Shrike is about the size of an adult Blackbird, so at distance, appears smallish. I took a few photos as it shifted position. Not great but a record. For the next 90 minutes I stayed in the hope of getting a closer photo as it is prone to get quite close. We were treated to three more sightings of it as it patrolled it's territory. But none of these were closer. Is it here for the winter months, who knows? Though it has already been in residence for over two weeks. What a smart-looking bird and a great way to start the new year!

Whooper Swans and Mute Swans  were still on the field at Alderfen and all showing well. As usual 3 Kestrels were seen hovering in the fields around me. As I was walking back along the southern bank of the river Torne, the Whooper Swans took to the air. What a wonderful sight and noisy too as they continually call to each other in flight.

January 2012 - No Shrike but Rooks and Whooper Swans.

Monday 2nd: A trip out to Wroot to see the Great Grey Shrike that has been hanging around for a week now at least. When we got to the location where it resides, a cold wind was blowing and there was already several birders in attendance. Sandra and myself took up position on the south bank of the Torne and waited and waited, scanning the countryside with binoculars....but we didn't see it! We must've been the only people who missed the bird as everyone else got a good show! One birder even pulled our legs about not seeing the bird! We did manage to see 2 Buzzards, 2 Reed Buntings, 3 Kestrels and 3 juvenile Mute Swans...if not the Shrike!

Behind me was the field where all the Whooper Swans seem to favour. I counted 47, of these there were 3 juveniles. Some Mute Swans were also in attendance. Above are some snaps of these magnificant long-distance flyers!

On our way back, just outside of Wroot was a large flock of Rooks all perched on telephone wires.There numbered 67, made up of 41 adults and 26 juveniles. The juveniles are noticable by their shorter beaks and of course smaller body. What a grand sight, all to rarely seen unless you are visting farming areas. In the second image of Rooks, you will notice two birds to the bottom left. I have magnified the image of these birds and have identified them as a male and female Chaffinches.

December 2011 - Yet again the Grey Wagtail!

Monday 19th: This is surely an amazing sighting, yet again for the 8th day since 28th November, the Grey Wagtail visits the pond in our back garden to feed on invertebrates and...soaked fish pellets! Yes it seems that the Wagtail is partial to the floating fish food and this was at 10:30am!

Update January 12th 2012: This is so far the last recorded visit of the Grey Wagtail. Well, the show she put on had been good! To get a Grey Wagtail visit a garden pond on a housing estate is pretty good I think! If it wasn't for Mel, I would never have seen it. All the visits except one were during the working days and even that one visit on the Sunday, got me out of bed at 9:30am! Many thanks Mel!