I've never visited Middleton Lakes without going down to the lakes before but as you can see from the above photos there was a very good reason for that and that was because there was a bird ringing event done not far from the car park organised by Tame Valley Wetlands and run by the British Trust For Ornithology , even though this event was free, future events will probably come with a small charge, judging by today it will be worth every penny anyway.
Even though it was a pleasure and honour to see so many birds (100+) so close up, the Redwing was still the highlight of the morning, what a truly magnificent bird with amazing colours, saying that all the colours close up were stunning, the other birds caught and rung were, Blue Tit (which was by far the most bird trapped), Great Tit, Coal Tit, Goldfinch and Dunnock, for anyone that thinks Dunnocks are 'little brown jobs', they have clearly not seen them this close up, as like House Sparrows, if you take the time out to look at them properly they are as stunning as any other bird we have in this country.
There was too much information garnered this morning to impart on this blog, so if there's ever another event like today's near you then I implore you to attend because you will learn so much and you will thoroughly enjoy it.
Aside from the 'ringing' birds seen today were, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Kestrel, Nuthatch, Siskin, Common Redpoll, Reed Bunting, House Sparrow, Dunnock, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Robin, Starling, Redwing, Fieldfare, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Blackbird, Jackdaw, Raven, Rook, Carrion Crow, Woodpigeon, Feral Pigeon, Grey Heron, Little Egret, Moorhen, Coot, Mallard and Canada Goose, not a bad list being as I barely left the car park.
There are approximately thirty pairs of Grey Heron already on the nest in the roosts near to the car park which is great news, the Siskin and Common Redpoll were in fairly large flocks of the respective birds, on the road on the way into the car park there was a tree which held c.100 birds, mainly Fieldfare, Redwing and Starling, which was an amazing sight, this was just a small portion of the tree showing Redwing and Fieldfare on the left and Starling on the right.
In my back garden I currently have 70+ House Sparrow visiting every day which is more than even I usually get, so possibly some have been displaced from another location or maybe they are newer birds have just recently found a new food source, unfortunately - or fortunately - depending on your point of view this has also meant the return of the Sparrowhawk(s), it has been making a visit at least once a week but I haven't seen it catch anything yet, just a few near misses, I also have good numbers of Blue Tit, Great Tit, Starling, Woodpigeon, Feral Pigeon (who are welcome in my garden by the way), as well as Goldcrest, Blackcap, Long Tailed Tit, Robin, Dunnock, Wren, Pied Wagtail, Blackbird, Carrion Crow, Magpie, who are all being well fed and being provided with clean and fresh water to drink and bathe in everyday.
Today's visit to Middleton Lakes has whetted my appetite for a 'proper' visit, so all being well expect a blog from me from that location next week, which this time will include a full report on the waterfowl and waders.
No comments:
Post a Comment