Dunnock at Redpath
Redpath farm
The Cheviots with a dusting of snow
Conifer mazegill
Back in Harwood today and did an 8 mile trek around some of the forest trails. Lovely day but very cold. Best birds were Crossbills, 60+ scattered around the forest, Goshawk, Brambling, Siskin and Long tailed tit. There were many Jays, Chaffinches and single Buzzard. Notable was 9 Dunnock at Redpath cottage, probably the most I have seen in one place. Conifer mazegill was growing on old pines at Tod knowe, this is a good sighting as it is pretty much a Scottish species.
Yesterday I was at Widdrington tip and there was a large mixed flock of birds in Alders beside the entrance of 9 species including 30 Siskin, 12 Yellowhammer, 9 Lesser Redpoll and 7 Reed Buntings. Along the hedgerows which are still laden with berries were 60 Blackbirds and about 20 Redwings, probably new in. The Snipe were in the foot and mouth plantation (15).
4 comments:
No great grey shrike Nigel - what's gannin on?
Two good days out. I like your picture of the Cheviot with snow.
Nigel, are the Crossbill singing yet?
Thanks for the comments. I'll keep the Great grey for another visit! Plenty of Crossbills but I didn't hear any singing today but when I was there on 13th October there were a couple of males singing in Harry's wood and over at Hemmel hill, in fact the latter site holds most of Harwoods Crossbills at the moment...lots of mature trees here but it is also a harvesting site.
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