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| Oystercatcher |
Much like the previous week, I had a bit of a lie-in on Saturday morning. I had been contemplating a trip to either Clatto or Clearwater Park with an early start but getting out of bed when it is still dark outside knowing that it is also likely to be rather cold does prove rather tricky more often than not. On the (slight) plus side, a later start in winter does tend to mean you haven't missed out on as much daylight as an equivalent start time at any other time of the year. An 0925 departure meant I only really missed out on the first hour of daylight.
The weather forecast hadn't looked too bad when I was getting organised but as I stepped outside, there were one or two flakes of what looked like very light snow blowing through. I set off for Clepington Road. Herring Gull, Feral Pigeon, Starling and Jackdaw made for a very typical mix of birds in my street. The trio of Redwing, Chaffinch and Robin were all heard as I headed up Court Street. I added Carrion Crow and Magpie on my way to Mains Terrace for a look. Black Headed Gull and Blackbird were noted as I wandered across the patch of ground surrounded by houses which can sometimes be surprisingly good for birds.
I added a Collared Dove and heard a Bullfinch as I walked along the small track through the trees. Ahead of me, a Fox turned to look towards me before trotting off to the road. Although my camera was still in my bag, I followed on and found the Fox looking back at me again from a bit further along the road, before it disappeared back in below the trees and bushes. As it was daylight, I probably could have had some rather nice photos but it was one of those times when I wasn't really in 'photography mode' and the snow which was still blowing through made me reluctant to take the camera out unless something exceptional presented an opportunity. Had the Fox been a little less wary, the camera probably would've made an appearance.
Fieldfare and Long Tailed Tits were added to the list for the morning before I continued on to Swannie Ponds to check there. Mallard, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Coot, Common Gull and a Pied Wagtail were found at the ponds, as well as the usual Black Headed and Herring Gulls. The snow had by this time started to look like it would be on for a while and it was 'proper snow' with larger, fluffier flakes now following from a featureless, grey sky. This wasn't particularly great considering my original plan. I decided to head for Eastern Cemetery instead of the Dighty Burn. The snow was also now beginning to 'lie', carpetting the paths and grass in white.
As I walked along Rodd Road, I heard the sound of Waxwings and turned to see a flock of around 30 or so fly over the houses and over the Territorial Army camp. Seconds later a slightly smaller flock of around 20, followed suit. These were a bit of a bonus sighting as it feels like the majority of these birds have already moved on elsewhere having devoured most of the local berry crop - though there are a lot of 'larger' gardens in the general area where there may well be plenty of eating still to be found. At the cemetery, the snow was now getting heavier and there appeared to be thrushes flying in from elsewhere - Fieldfares mostly, as well as some Redwings and Mistle Thrushes. There were a few Woodpigeons sitting around in the trees.
I made one quick circuit of the site before deciding to call it a day and heading homewards. I had a quick look in Baxter Park which added Dunnock, Coal Tit, House Sparrow and Goldfinch taking a rather snow covered me to a total of 28 species in a little over an hour's worth of snowy wandering. Back at home I waited to see if the snow would eventually stop and thankfully it did. I decided that rather than waste the opportunity to get outside I would head out again and see how the same sites would compare following the snowfall. I headed out again at around 1310.
Redwing, Herring Gull, Carrion Crow and Feral Pigeon were the first 4 species onto the afternoon's list. I decided to do the morning's route in reverse and headed in the direction of Baxter Park first. Black Headed Gull and Starling were noted at Dura Street car park with Robin and Blue Tit near the entrance to Baxter Park. I spent a few minutes at Spring Grove but it proved to be rather quiet with Woodpigeon and Long Tailed Tits in the surrounding trees but the grove itself being very quiet. I added a heard only Wren from one of the big gardens as I wandered along to the Cemetery.
Things were much busier there than they had been during the morning's snow. There were pockets of Fieldfare, Redwing and Mistle Thrush dotted around in lots of the trees with birds exploding out from the Yews as I passed by. Great Tit, Goldfinch, Magpie and a flyover Buzzard were also noted before I bumped into Lainy, who was just having a quick look around. As we chatted a Sparrowhawk swept through between the trees and an Oystercatcher with a deformed 'crossbill' beak landed nearby. We both got photos of the Oystercatcher before Lainy met up with husband Adam again and I made another circuit of the cemetery. This added House Sparrow, Blackbird, Goldcrest, Greenfinch and Goldcrest but was otherwise much as before. I did manage some close views of a trio of Rabbits munching on leaves by using the gravestones to mask my approach and got within 10 feet or so.
Swannie Ponds also proved to be rather similar to earlier in the day with Common Gull, Coot, Moorhen, Mallard, Mute Swan, Black Headed Gull and Herring Gull being noted. A Rook overflew before my attention was drawn upwards to the surprising sound of a Skylark call. I managed to see the bird head south towards Baxter Park before I decided that a cup of hot tea seemed like a good idea and made my way homewards. Mains Terrace was also a different proposition to the morning's visit with nothing at all to be found. I added Jackdaw to the afternoon's list on Clepington Road which took me to a total of 32 species. The combined total for the morning and afternoon wanders was 38 species which considering the weather and the sites covered was actually relatively decent. I didn't take any photos in the morning but made up for that in the afternoon when the conditions were much better.
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Fieldfare & Redwing
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Great Tit
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| Redwing |
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| Goldfinch |
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| Buzzard |
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| Oystercatcher |
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| Oystercatcher |
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| Fieldfare |
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| Woodpigeon |
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| Redwing |
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| Redwing |
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Herring Gull
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Carrion Crow
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Herring Gull
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| Greenfinch |
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Mistle Thrush
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| Rabbit |
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Greenfinch, Goldfinch and Chaffinch
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Black Headed Gull
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| Moorhen |
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| Skylark |
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Common Gull
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Mute Swan
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Black Headed Gull
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Birds (morning) - Blackbird, Black Headed Gull, Bullfinch, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Coal Tit, Collared Dove, Common Gull, Coot, Dunnock, Fieldfare, Goldfinch, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Long Tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Mistle Thrush, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Pied Wagtail, Redwing, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Starling, Waxwing, Woodpigeon.
Mammals (morning) - Fox.
Birds (afternoon) - Blackbird, Black Headed Gull, Blue Tit, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Common Gull, Coot, Fieldfare, Goldcrest, Goldfinch,
Great Tit, Greenfinch, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Long Tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard,
Mistle Thrush, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Redwing, Robin, Feral
Pigeon, Rook, Skylark, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Woodpigeon, Wren.
Mammals (afternoon) - Rabbit.
