Wilton Lake today:

3 Goosander (2 males & 1 female), 12 Mallard, 2 Coot and 3 Moorhen.

Wilton Woods:

1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Nuthatch and several Great Tit, Blue Tit and Pheasant.

No new additions to patch list today.

Garden Birdwatch Update

Week starting 22nd January 2012

Maximum Temperature 17.5C; Minimum Temperature -0.4C

Collared Dove 2

Blackbird 2

Dunnock 3

Greenfinch 2

Goldfinch 6

House Sparrow 3

Blue Tit 1

Robin 1

Starling 14

Feral Pigeon 2

Woodpigeon 1

Jackdaw 5

Food: Sunflower Hearts, Seed, Peanuts, Fat Balls and Kitchen Scraps

Water

Yesterday around Wilton produced;

Wilton Lake: Goosanders x2, Tufted Duck x6, Mallard x4, Pochard x3, Moorhen x4, Coot x2 & Grey Heron x1.

Wilton Woods / Golf Course: Goldcrest x2, Long-tailed Tit x3, Mistle Thrush x2, Herring Gull x4, Robin, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Carrion Crow, Pheasant & Blackbird.

Wilton Patch

Birds = 40 (Grey Heron)

Mammals = 2

Moths = 0

Butterflies = 0

Today's lunchtime walk produced a new patch and year tick for me. Starting at Wilton Lake which is now completely free from ice, so the birds look a lot happier. Goosander x3, Mallard x4, Pochard x3, Tufted Duck x4, Moorhen x4 & Coot x2. As I approached the Wilton Village sign a Treecreeper flew on to the trunk of a nearby tree. What a nice surprise, and a new 'double' tick. Blue Tit, Chaffinch, Great Tit, Robin and Wren could all be heard as I walked through the village. Near the Church, in a tall fir tree were another two Treecreepers and a Long-tailed Tit.

Walking down the golf course road, Pheasant, Mistle Thrush, Great Tit, Herring Gull, Carrion Crow and Blue Tit were seen along with approximately 4 Grey Squirrels.

2012 Year List

Birds = 73 (Treecreeper)

Mammals = 5

Moths = 0

Butterflies = 0

Wilton Patch

Birds = 39 (Treecreeper)

Mammals = 2

Moths = 0

Butterflies = 0

The walk around Wilton today was very pleasant. There was a sharpness to the air and the birds were busy feeding as I walked by. On the lake, the pair of Goosanders were still present along with Pochard, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Coot and Moorhen. In the trees, I spotted a Collared Dove and some Coal Tits to add to the patch list.

Wilton Patch

Birds = 38 (Collared Dove & Coal Tit)

Mammals = 5

Butterflies = 0

Moths = 0

Garden BIrdwatch Update

Week starting 15th January 2012

Maximum Temperature 14.5C; Minimum Temperature -4.7C

Blue Tit 1

House Sparrow 3

Dunnock 2

Goldfinch 10

Greenfinch 2

Blackbird 4

Collared Dove 2

Woodpigeon 1

Feral Pigeon 1

Jackdaw 1

Starling 7

Black-headed Gull 1

Food: Sunflower Hearts, Seed, Fat Balls & Peanuts

Water

This afternoon I went for a walk around Coatham Stob near Longnewton. The wind was quite strong with a cold bite, but the temperature was still mild so the walk was pleasant. The purpose of our visit was to hopefully see a Great Grey Shrike. After heading for the Oak plantation and searching with binoculars the bird was located sitting on a small sapling. What luck, others earlier in the day had search for hours before seeing this normally not so elusive visitor. Whether the wind was causing extra disturbance for the bird, but instead of sitting on the top of the highest tree it was keeping low with the saplings. A view of a beautiful male Bullfinch and a Kestrel made a very enjoyable afternoon.

2012 Year List

Birds = 72 (Great Grey Shrike & Bullfinch)

Mammals = 5

Moths = 0

Butterflies = 0