Off to spread my seed (ooo errr, Missus!) this afternoon around West Hartford. My philanthropy, or whatever the bird equivalent of that word is, was justly rewarded.
In what was a cold, white and ornithologically barren landscape, two Greylags over south on the front nine was a nice start, and on the back nine, a Woodcock north over the sub-station.
Then a text from Mr Sometimes to say he had a Willow Tit along the east edge of Bassington Nature and five minutes or so later, bingo!
Then a text from Mr Crammy to say he had Brambling in his garden but when I got there it had moved into the school field. Knowing that trespass is a civil matter, and being the decent chap that I am, I paid a visit and was duly 'challenged' by the caretaker and his faithful companion. A bit of general bird chat, a few handfuls of seed thrown on the ground and a boring monologue about the difference between a Chaffinch and a Brambling convinced him I was neither mad (?) nor of malicious intent and he left me be. Two minutes later, a male Brambling in the willows. Superb!
Saturday, 26 January 2013
A Couple of Surprises
Managed to get out for only the second time this week, even though I've been off since Monday.
No need to describe the terrain nor the weather, and all was pretty quiet. Plenty of opportunities to play 'Guess the footprint', the answer usually being fox or rabbit (or dog).
The morning's highlights were a couple of male Crossbills at the NE corner of Wessie H, and a Green Woodpecker dropping in from high up to the area near the SW corner of the Bassie NR./SE corner of Rentolit.
Despite a good search, seen no more.
No need to describe the terrain nor the weather, and all was pretty quiet. Plenty of opportunities to play 'Guess the footprint', the answer usually being fox or rabbit (or dog).
The morning's highlights were a couple of male Crossbills at the NE corner of Wessie H, and a Green Woodpecker dropping in from high up to the area near the SW corner of the Bassie NR./SE corner of Rentolit.
Despite a good search, seen no more.
Tuesday, 22 January 2013
Done My Bit
Laverock Farm at dinner time; not to buy a Sedgie or Howdie cream scone (I bet they both pronounce it scowwwn and not sconnn!) and latte from some lavish farm shop cafe, but two big bags of high energy bird food for soup kitchen-like distribution round some of the local hot-spots (hot! hot! freakin' freezin' more like).
Early meal worm interest from a Robin or two, but a trip round the bases tomorrow might see more activity. Numerous drain covers up and down the side of the burn and the access road to West Hartford were given a dose, these covers appearing to remain snow-free unlike the rest of the place.
GSW added to patch list and an SEO lifted from the dead trees at the end of the road at Wessie.
Early meal worm interest from a Robin or two, but a trip round the bases tomorrow might see more activity. Numerous drain covers up and down the side of the burn and the access road to West Hartford were given a dose, these covers appearing to remain snow-free unlike the rest of the place.
GSW added to patch list and an SEO lifted from the dead trees at the end of the road at Wessie.
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