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29 Dec 2007 seems to be ending in a a whimper, with little to report between 11.00 am and noon today. At the station there was evidence of a SPARROWHAWK kill near the tunnel - a mass of feathers where the predator had plucked the prey before consuming it. A GREY WAGTAIL flew over and a party of LONG TAILED TITS were in trees opposite the main platform, also a few GREENFINCHES flying around. The park was quiet with just BLACKBIRD, WREN, ROBIN, CHAFFINCH and a fly-over PIED WAGTAIL to report. |
24 Dec The male BLACKCAP was showing well in the garden at 9.30 am. At 10.30 am the park produced five BLACKBIRDS, a couple of CHAFFINCHES and two BLUE TITS. Meanwhile at the station the rough ground near the tunnel was occupied by two JAYS, a couple of Chaffinches, a DUNNOCK and two GREAT TITS all feeding in the long grass. A GOLDFINCH flew over the allotment gardens. Some nice HAZEL CATKINS along Station Road were a reminder that spring is not far off! |
23 Dec A lovely sunny day. A male BLACKCAP was calling and showed briefly at the top of St Andrews Road. At the station I was nearly hit on the head by a LONG-TAILED TIT flying across the station approach! Nearby good numbers of CHAFFINCHES were feeding in the trees and a JAY flew over. Two HERRING GULLS were on the roof of one of the Cromwell Road houses that overlook the station. Nothing much in the park today but a PIED WAGTAIL flew over. |
22 Dec The male BLACKCAP made an appearance in the garden at about 10.00 am and a DUNNOCK plus a couple of BLUE TITS were nearby. In the park at about 11.00 am there were no less than six BLACKBIRDS near the Old Vicarage plus a few CHAFFINCHES and a WREN. Soon afterwards, the station produced a party of LONG-TAILED TITS and a gaggle of HOUSE SPARROWS. Finally, a singing GOLDFINCH was near the top of Station Road at 2.00 pm - the first I've seen or heard for a couple of months. There was a spring-like feel to the day with several GREAT TITS in full song at various places |
17 Dec A thoroughly satisfying day - at about 11.00am there was a female BLACKCAP in the garden as well as the male, so there is a minimum of three Blackcaps at present in Monty counting yesterday's bird at Fairlawn Road. They are probably all birds from Germany, escaping the cold and seeking milder temperatures in Britain. Meanwhile in the park at around 12.00 noon the CHIFFCHAFF was finally giving cracking views, feeding among bare branches and even perching on the roof of one of the industrial units whereupon it was chased away by a WREN! It seemed odd to see a Wren so high and exposed as they normally frequent low vegetation. A few CHAFFINCHES, a ROBIN, three BLACKBIRDS, four WOODPIGEONS and a JAY were also in the park but sadly no Partridge in a pear tree. |
16 Dec Chris Rose to the rescue! Yesterday I bemoaned the fact that it was all a bit quiet on the wildlife front but along comes Chris with another report to save the day. It was also great to see a male BLACKCAP this morning in the garden but he was being chased around by the resident ROBIN! Another male Blackcap was along the railway cutting at Fairlawn Road with a party of LONG-TAILED TITS nearby, and a CHIFFCHAFF was calling in the park but remained highly elusive. At the station were seven or eight CHAFFINCHES and a couple of GREENFINCHES near the feeding station opposite the platform. |
10 Dec At last a lovely sunny morning and once again the GOLDCREST was showing off in front of me, at one point flying up to a bare branch and staying there for several seconds. The GREY WAGTAIL was back, feeding among the fallen leaves and a pair of BLACKBIRDS were shuffling around nearby. Half a dozen CHAFFINCHES, a ROBIN and a JAY were the supporting cast. Delightful. |
7 Dec Once again it was good to observe a reasonably common species of bird at close quarters and this morning a party of a dozen or so LONG TAILED TITS allowed close scrutiny as they fed in trees near the Old Vicarage. Their quiet calls and zipping flight among the bare branches added delight to an already fine and sunny morning. Among them were a few BLUE and GREAT TITS and a fine male CHAFFINCH also showed well nearby. |
5 Dec A GOLDCREST was very confiding in the park this morning - quite close and at eye-level - as it fed in the scrub which divides the two halves of the park. It showed off its bright crown really well and I had time to admire Britain's smallest bird! BLUE and GREAT TITS were nearby and a GREY SQUIRREL ran along the path in front of me and up a tree - Squirrels seem more aloof here than in many other Bristol parks. |
4 Dec At the station two JAYS were chasing each other around the trees on the opposite side of the railway line - these were probably the same birds I saw yesterday at Fairlawn Road. About 8 CHAFFINCHES were feeding in the tree-tops and a WREN and a few HOUSE SPARROWS were in bushes near the allotments. Small groups of FERAL PIGEONS were flying high to the north - they may have been racers. |
3 Dec A lovely sunny morning was a welcome change from the weekend's appalling weather. In the park, a GREY WAGTAIL allowed prolonged views as it strutted among the dead leaves on the concrete play area. Above it in the trees a manically active GOLDCREST did not allow anything but the very briefest of glimpses. LONG-TAILED TITS and CHAFFINCHES were also feeding in the trees. At the railway cutting along Fairlawn Road, two JAYS were squawking wildly at a cat - when the cat left the scene, the Jays played tag with each other, chasing each other up and down the branches of a tree for several minutes! |
