This morning I did a BTO Atlas square walk (NZ42L) at Norton. It was cold, but with blue skies overhead we started at St Mary's Church in Norton. This is a wonderful churchyard for birds and today was no exception as a Goldcrest dropped into a Holly tree about 5 foot away from where I was standing. The Rooks were sitting high up in the tops of the trees whilst the smaller birds searched nearer the ground. Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Wren, Robin, Blackbird and Redwing were all present in good numbers.
After leaving Norton Church we went to Mill Lane and walked to Billingham bottoms. Two more Goldcrests were added to the list and alongside the beck we found Bullfinch and Siskin feeding in the hedgerow.
The last stop of the square included the railway line near Crooksbarn Estate, Norton. As we approached the railway crossing I spotted some Brambling and a male Blackcap which were wonderful to see. I estimated 10 Brambling in the flock feeding in the scrubs alongside the line and we finshed the count with 30 species.
2011 Year List = 69 (Goldcrest, Siskin, Brambling and Blackcap)
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