New Hall Valley Country Park.

Newhall Valley Country Park near Sutton was the order of the day today for some Autumn birding.

Birds seen today were Kestrel. Buzzard, Siskin, Mealy Redpoll, Bullfinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Starling, Redwing, Pheasant (Cock), Blackbird, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Woodpigeon, Grey Wagtail, Grey Heron and Mallard.

The Buzzard seen was very noisy. in fact it was heard way before it was even seen, unfortunately for the poor creature it was constantly being mobbed by two Jackdaw. As you can see there were plenty of small birds about today, so many in fact, that in a clump of three trees there were Blue Tit, Great Tit, Siskin, Bullfinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Mealy Redpoll, Redwing and Blackbird, the trees were a mass of noise and constant movement. Today was the first time I've ever seen a Pheasant at this location, that said there is some great copse and woodland for them to reside in adjacent to the train line which is largely inaccessible to man. Strangely enough I only saw one Starling today which was on a telephone line near some houses, so hopefully it's friends were foraging nearby.

To get to New Hall Valley Country Park I have to pass Plantsbrook where unfortunately today I noticed a dead Fox cub near the road side to the entrance so I picked it up and left it to the left of the entrance and covered the poor soul over with some leaf litter etc.

In the back garden I always have Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Robin and Blackbird visiting the apple tree as well as the odd flock of Long Tailed Tit but over the last two days I have noticed to my great amazement and pleasure I now have a pair of Goldcrest making daily visits, I have recently put up a globe feeder in the tree to go with all the other goodies, it is then topped up with seed, mealworms, sunflower hearts and suet pellets, so hopefully that will keep the Goldcrest and all the others coming back right through to next Spring.