The weather on Saturday was rather misty when I got out of bed around 0900. I decided that as the forecast was for the mist to eventually clear around lunchtime that I would head out for some birding to see what I could find. Although I didn't really have a set plan I figured that I would just see where the mood and the birding took me. Sometimes it is those sorts of days that are the most productive, or at least the most interesting. As I've said before there is always something of interest, no matter where or when I go birding.
 |
| Buzzard |
It was still rather foggy when I headed out at around 1050. Herring Gull, Feral Pigeon, and Carrion Crow were seen very quickly as I left my street behind. A slight surprise was a Great Tit showing well by the side of the shops on Court Street, along with a Blue Tit, a Woodpigeon and a House Sparrow. Continuing on I added a Blackbird and a flyover Black Headed Gull. Jackdaw was added to the list on Clepington Road before I detoured along Mains Terrace which gave me Redwing, Robin and Collared Dove. When I reached Swannie Ponds the visibility rather unsurprisingly wasn't great.
There were plenty of birds on the water and also milling around on the path. On the water were Herring Gulls, Black Headed Gulls, Mallards, Tufted Ducks and Coots with the Mute Swans resting at the top end of the island. Lots of Feral Pigeons wandered around at my feet, seemingly loathe to take flight in the conditions. A Magpie flew by and some scanning of the gulls on the lower pond added a single Common Gull to the birds seen. I took a different route from the ponds to Eastern Cemetery, choosing to go in at the top end rather than by the side gate where I usually enter. I found some Redwings and Mistle Thrushes in the trees before a Buzzard flew past me and landed in another tree close by, just as it was spotted by some of the local corvids.
I took the opportunity to move slowly towards the tree, being careful to watch the bird for signs that it might take off. As with the Feral Pigeons earlier the bird seemed reluctant to fly in the fog and stayed put, which allowed me to get some relatively decent Buzzard photos. After a few minutes the bird flew the short distance to the conifers opposite and disappeared. I explored the lower half of the Cemetery. I heard some Pink Foted Geese passing over but failed to see them. An Oystercatcher was also heard but not seen, though one was spotted overhead a bit later. More wandering added Wren and Greenfinch as well as both Grey Squirrel and Rabbit.
A Sparrowhawk zipped through, too quickly for me to get the camera to focus before it vanished behind the trees. Coal Tit, Greenfinch and a Dunnock were noted before I wandered along to Baxter Park to see if there was anything happening at the Spring Grove. A Siskin flew over as I wandered along the streets connecting the Cemetery and the park. By this time the mist was starting to thin and some sunlight was finally getting through. Thankfully, Spring Grove proved very productive with Blue Tits, Blackbirds, Chaffinches and Dunnocks all showing quite well. Great Tit, Robin, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Collared Dove and Wren were a little less regular with their visits. A Pied Wagtail was heard close by but not seen.
The
light continued to improve as I stood around photographing the comings
and goings, from the small gate. A Song Thrush dropped in for a drink
and a Starling was spotted high in one of the tall trees nearby. A
surprise was a Treecreeper which visited for a 'shower' below the top small
'waterfall'. Just as with the Siskin last year, it was interesting to
watch a bird that I'd never seen bathing before, as it ignored me and
took the opportunity to spruce itself up a bit. A flash of movement caught my eye, followed by a tiny face appearing from one of the openings to the
left of the water. The resident Bank Vole was a bit quicker than my reactions though I
did succeed in getting a few photos before it vanished again after only a few seconds.
Despite waiting for over another half hour it didn't show again.
With
the light having improved by this time, though the mist hadn't receded
completely, I decided to have another look at Swannie Ponds. I found the
same two ringed Black Headed Gulls that I saw on my previous visit
(white JMK7 and yellow 2XLD) and a pair of Moorhens as well as all the previously seen species. The low sun was
casting some nice light on the birds on the water at one end of the
ponds, but the other end was already in shadow. I decided to call it a day and
headed for home around 1430. I added Long Tailed Tits to the list as I
walked down past the DISC and along Dundonald Street. Unfortunately after those I
failed to add anything else to the 37 species previously noted. Despite the
conditions, I had managed to get some decent, and interesting photos, making
for a worthwhile wander in the mostly misty conditions.
 |
| Redwing |
 |
| Buzzard |
 |
| Buzzard |
 |
| Buzzard |
 |
| Buzzard |
 |
Carrion Crow
|
 |
Mistle Thrush
|
 |
Greenfinch & Redwing
|
 |
Redwing and Mistle Thrush
|
 |
Grey Squirrel
|
 |
Grey Squirrel
|
 |
Mistle Thrush
|
 |
Mistle Thrush
|
 |
| Woodpigeon |
 |
| Jackdaw |
 |
| Redwing |
 |
| Redwing |
 |
Mistle Thrush
|
 |
| Redwing |
 |
| Woodpigeon |
 |
Carrion Crow
|
 |
| Oystercatcher |
 |
| Blackbird |
 |
| Blackbird |
 |
| Blackbird |
 |
| Blackbird |
 |
Greenfinch & Goldfinch
|
 |
| Blackbird |
 |
| Chaffinch |
 |
| Dunnock |
 |
| Dunnock |
 |
Collared Dove
|
 |
| Blackbird |
 |
| Goldfinch |
 |
Song Thrush
|
 |
| Blackbird |
 |
Collared Dove
|
 |
| Woodpigeon |
 |
| Dunnock |
 |
Great Tit
|
 |
Bank Vole
|
 |
Bank Vole
|
 |
| Robin |
 |
Blue Tit
|
 |
| Treecreeper |
 |
| Treecreeper |
 |
| Treecreeper |
 |
| Robin |
 |
Great Tit
|
 |
Starling & Goldfinch
|
 |
Carrion Crow & Magpie
|
 |
Herring Gull
|
 |
| Goldfinch |
 |
Herring Gull
|
 |
Feral Pigeon
|
 |
| Coot |
 |
| Coot |
 |
Mallard
|
 |
Mallard & Tufted Duck
|
 |
Tufted Duck & Black Headed Gull
|
 |
| Mallard |
 |
| Mallard |
 |
Moorhen & Mallard
|
 |
| Moorhen |
 |
Tufted Duck
|
 |
Black Headed Gull (white JMK7)
|
 |
Herring Gull (& Feral Pigeon, Mallard & Black Headed Gull)
|
 |
Black Headed Gull & Common Gull
|
 |
Herring Gull (& Black Headed Gull & Tufted Duck)
|
 |
Black Headed Gull
|
Birds - Blackbird, Black Headed Gull, Blue Tit, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Coal Tit, Collared Dove, Common Gull, Coot, Dunnock, Goldfinch, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Long Tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Mistle Thrush, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Pied Wagtail, Pink Footed Goose, Redwing, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Siskin, Song Thrush, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Treecreeper, Tufted Duck, Woodpigeon, Wren.
Mammals - Bank Vole, Grey Squirrel, Rabbit.