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| Redpoll |
The weather forecast for Wednesday the 17th of December was unfortunately very similar to the rest of the month - the threat of rain, very overcast and rather grey. However I was still keen to try and get out and about, even if my expectation levels were between zero and very minimal. I certainly wasn't hopeful that the weather would behave but got organised and ready to head out as the weather looked like it might not be too bad for a few hours from around 1100. I was organised and ready to get out just after the hour.
First on the list was Herring Gull, Feral Pigeon, Blue Tit and House Sparrow, though at a rate of just over 1 species per minute things didn't look too promising. Nonetheless, needs must and I was already out so I decided to take a look at Swannie Ponds. Magpie, Jackdaw, Starling and Woodpigeon were all noted on the way to the ponds. I managed to find a few more species at the Swannies, with Goosander, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Coot, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull and a Grey Wagtail all noted there. Blackbird, Wren and Carrion Crow were noted as I continued on towards Eastern Cemetery to see what I could find there, if anything.
There was a brief hint of something like sunshine, though unfortunately it disappeared almost as quickly as it had arrived. A few Grey Squirrels, a Sparrowhawk, Coal Tit, Redwing, Mistle Thrush, Chaffinch, Dunnock and Robin were all I had to show for my efforts traipsing around the Cemetery and with the weather increasingly looking likely to deteriorate further I decided to call it a day and head homewards via Swannie Ponds once again. A Grey Heron had appeared there taking my list for a shorter than intended outing to a rather low 28 species. Still, it was worthwhile getting out into the December daylight, poor though it was, even if the birds didn't exactly 'play ball', with few decent photo opportunities to be had.
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| Carrion Crow & Sparrowhawk |
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| Sparrowhawk |
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| Redwing |
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| Redwing |
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| Grey Squirrel |
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| Goosander |
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| Grey Heron |
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| Common Gull |
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Coot |
Birds - Black-headed Gull, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Coal Tit, Common Gull, Coot, Dunnock, Goosander, Grey Heron, Grey Wagtail, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Magpie, Mallard, Mistle Thrush, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Redwing, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Tufted Duck, Woodpigeon, Wren.
Mammals - Grey Squirrel.
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When Saturday came around, I was keen to get out and about but again the weather forecast didn't seem too brilliant. Despite this, I decided I was going out anyway. I didn't really have much of a plan but as it would once again be a relatively late start, I wasn't likely to venture too far. That was likely to mean a very similar set of locations to most of my recent birding attempts. I was organised and out the door around 15 minutes earlier than my previous outing, 3 days previously.
First onto the list for the day were Feral Pigeon and Woodpigeon. A nearby tree held a small flock of Long-tailed Tits which I'd heard calling earlier from my living room window. Robin, Herring Gull, Magpie, Blue Tit and House Sparrow were all added to the list as I wandered up Court Street en route to the Swannie Ponds again. Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Starling, Dunnock and Chaffinch were seen between there and the ponds as I made my way along Clepington Road. Once again, Swannie Ponds failed to add anything of any great interest with Mallard, Coot, Goosander, Tufted Duck, Moorhen, Mute Swan and Black-headed Gull all found without much effort.
I crossed the road to head once more for Eastern Cemetery. A Blackbird was perched atop a chimney and I could hear a Redpoll calling. I managed to spot the Redpoll perched in the top branches of a small tree in one of the gardens on Rodd Road. Unfortunately, the sun was behind the bird though I did still manage to get a few usable photos. Things were relatively quiet at the cemetery though I did manage views of Buzzard, Rook, Redwing, Greenfinch, Coal Tit and Grey Squirrel. More wandering around the cemetery got me Goldcrest, Wren and a Rabbit as well as flyover Curlew and a few Oystercatchers. I spotted the local Sparrowhawk perched atop a Camperdown Elm but it flew off when it spotted me.
I decided to head for City Quay next. A distant skein of Pink-footed Geese were seen out over the river to the south. A Cormorant flew over as I wandered along Murray Street. A Buzzard was perched in the trees by the railway line but spotted me and flew off as I was attempting to get a few photos. Things were rather quiet at the Quay area though there were a few Cormorants around. A Grey Heron was sleeping atop the broken wooden jetty near the Unicorn. Out on the river I was able to pick out a small group of Eider and a Grey Seal, while a Great Black-backed Gull was roosting with Cormorants on Submarine Rock. Despite much searching there was no obvious sign of the female Kingfisher at the Quay. A Pied Wagtail flew over as I headed back towards the frigate Unicorn. I meandered homewards through the city centre adding a Goldfinch over the Murraygate which took my total for the day to 39 species. Not a classic day out but still better than the Wednesday before.
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| Buzzard |
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| Magpie |
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| Coal Tit |
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| Redwing |
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| Oystercatcher |
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| Buzzard |
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| Curlew |
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| Sparrowhawk |
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| Buzzard |
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| Cormorant |
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| Grey Heron |
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| Cormorant |
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| Cormorant |
Birds - Black-headed Gull, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Coal Tit, Coot, Cormorant, Curlew, Dunnock, Eider, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Goosander, Great Black-backed Gull, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Long-tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Pied Wagtail, Pink-footed Goose, Redpoll, Redwing, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Rook, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Tufted Duck, Woodpigeon, Wren.
Mammals - Grey Seal, Grey Squirrel, Rabbit.
