Northward Hill RSPB 10 - 3 - 2012

When Wendy heard about all the rabbits at Northward Hill it had to be our destination for the brief spell of sunshine on Saturday. I only took my Olympus as it was not to be a photographic trip so apologies for the sub-standard photography. We took the same route I did on Thursday and in short the sightings were quite similar. To save time (so I can get Sundays walk written as well) I will just list what was seen and expand on the differences.

Blue Tit and Great Tit - Olympus SP590UZ

The feeders were not quite as busy, probably as the seed feeder was empty, here were Goldfinches, Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Great tits, Blue Tits and Dunnocks. From the Marsh Viewpoint we saw Teal, Mallard, Lapwing, Little Grebe, Gadwall, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Rook, Jackdaw, Heron, Wood Pigeon, Oystercatcher, Moorhen, Coot, Tufted Duck. Wigeon were still grazing though the flock looked slightly smaller.

Blue Tit and Great Tit - Olympus SP590UZ

The Shovelers and the Godwit were missing but were replaced by some Pochards and a solitary Shelduck. A pair of Mute swans were flying about not seeming to settle in any particular spot. The Sky Lark was again heard but not seen.

Blue Tit - Olympus SP590UZ

The Ernie Helmsey Viewpoint was quite quiet, but we waited patiently and were rewarded after about 15 minutes with a Marsh Harrier which was quartering the land to our west eventually landing on something in a field in the far distance. Whilst watching the Marsh Harrier a Peregrine Falcon flew over it, making its way North towards us then East. We heard a Red Legged Partridge from the orchard to our left along with a Pheasant and a Green Woodpecker alighted in a tree about 75 yards away.

Green Woodpecker - Olympus SP590UZ

Returning to the feeders I was telling Wendy about the Great Spotted Woodpecker when there it was again, on the nut feeder. House Sparrows were present instead of the Collared Doves. Also seen in the travels were Blackbird, Starling, Carrion Crow, Dunnock, Black Headed Gull, Herring Gull, Jay, Magpie, Robin and Long Tailed Tit. The homeward journey provided us with a Kestrel. Total for the day was 40 with 3 more heard.

Northward Hill RSPB 8-3-2012

Yesterday afternoon the sun shone briefly and I took the opportunity for a quick trip to Northward Hill RSPB especially as their bird feeders offer photo opportunities. All todays photos were taken at the feeders and this is where I started off my short walk. They were busy with Finches and Tits, Green, Gold and Chaff of the former and Great and Blue of the latter, a couple of Dunnocks were also nearby picking up fallen seeds from below.

Goldfinch and Greenfinch - Canon 400D + 100-400mm

Moving on to the Marsh Viewpoint a Jay took off from where it had been feeding among the bushes. At the viewpoint the left hand reservoir provided a pair of Tufted Ducks, some Mallards and a Dabchick. The right hand one was a lot busier with about 80 Wigeon, some Teal, Lapwings, Coots and Black headed Gulls, there were half a dozen Gadwall a couple of snoozing Shovelers and a solitary Black Tailed Godwit. The nearby grass held a couple of Oystercatchers probing the soft earth whilst behind the reservoirs was a pair of Canada Geese and further off a few Greylag Geese grazed.

Goldfinch - Canon 400D + 100-400mm

Greenfinch - Canon 400D + 100-400mm

The skies were surprisingly empty, a loan Heron flew past and there was a slow but steady stream of Rooks flying to and fro interspersed with a few Jackdaws, one of these passing Rooks took umbrage at a hunting Kestrel and harried it for about half a mile coming dangerously close to it on a couple of occasions. I had hoped to catch a few passerines from here, but other than a Blackbird and a distant Chaffinch the only activity around the bushes was from the numerous rabbits happily grazing.

Great Tit - Canon 400D + 100-400mm

I walked towards the Heronry as far as the Orchard, however a small logging encampment had appeared as RSPB workers were rapidly doing some repair work on the Orchard which involved a certain amount of tree felling – no passerines to be found here. I then took the scenic route back through the car park to the other viewpoint, en route I heard but could not find a Sky Lark, I also saw a Green Woodpecker that took off from the scrub about 6 feet to my left while I was watching a Robin to my right, it was about time I saw one as I had been hearing them all afternoon.

Blue Tit (facing into the afternoon sun) - Canon 400D + 100-400mm

The only new spot from the second viewpoint was of a pair of Moorhens in the field, a distant Pheasant called repeatedly but without coming into view. One last visit to the bird feeders before going home gave me a Long Tailed Tit, a Collared Dove, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and from the bushes behind me a small flock of 10 Redwings. During the 2 hour walk I had also come across Carrion Crows, Herring Gulls, Wood Pigeons, and some Starlings.

Greenfinch with afternoon sun to its right - Canon 400D + 100-400mm

The day was not quite finished, on the journey back to the M2 I caught a couple of Mistle Thrushes in a sports field and a Buzzard over the A228. Total for the trip was 40 with another couple heard but not seen.

Female Chaffinch - Canon 400D + 100-400mm