Pages

Monday, 27 January 2014

Tophill Low ducktastic

As it is becoming routine, much to my pleasure, the forecast poor weather with heavy rain failed to materialise, and there was just a very brief shower during my visit to the north side of Tophill Low this morning.
A large flock of Chaffinches were feeding around the car park with Collared Doves, and a Great Spotted Woodpecker drummed.
The D reservoir was teeming with ducks: Wigeon, Tufted ducks, Pochard, Goldeneye, Gadwall, a sprinkle of Teal, two Shelduck and a pair of Mallard that looked out of place.
There was a strange and fascinating spectacle going on by the dozen feeding Mute swans, clouds of ducks (mainly Wigeon and Gadwall as far as I could see) and coot surrounded each pair of swans like flies. The ducks and coot were very busy feeding, so I presume the swans were disturbing or releasing something (seeds? invertebrates?) which the ducks seem to enjoy.
 Here is a short clip:


 In D woods the feeders were busy too: Goldfinches, a Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Blue, Great, Coal and Marsh tit, and Blackbirds and Dunnock underneath.
 I spend half an hour in North Marsh hoping for an otter encounter. The highlight is a Kingfisher flying away as I open the window, but other than a pair of Moorhens and a Wren on the reeds, there is little else.
No sign of Barn Owls on the scrub either, but as I walk towards the hide on Helmpholme meadows, two Roe Deer cross the path in front of me, just 10 m away. In the flooded meadows, a pair of Mute Swans resting contentedly, a pair of Mallard and Teal. A Kestrel hovers in the distance, and a large flock of Teal fly overhead.
Mute Swan and duck feast
Hovering Kestrel
A more relaxed Mute Swan at Helmpholme Meadow stretching its leg.
Goldfinches on the feeders in D wood
Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Chaffinch

Bird list
  1. Black-headed Gull    
  2. Blackbird    
  3. Blue Tit    
  4. Carrion Crow    
  5. Chaffinch 50 +  
  6. Coal Tit 2   
  7. Collared Dove 9   
  8. Common Gull    
  9. Coot    
  10. Dunnock    
  11. Gadwall    
  12. Goldcrest    
  13. Goldeneye
  14. Goldfinch    
  15. Great Black-backed Gull    
  16. Great Crested Grebe 2   
  17. Great Spotted Woodpecker
  18. Great Tit    
  19. Greenfinch    
  20. Greylag Goose    
  21. Jackdaw    
  22. Kestrel 1   
  23. Kingfisher 1   
  24. Lapwing    
  25. Mallard    
  26. Marsh Tit    
  27. Moorhen    
  28. Mute Swan 14   
  29. Pheasant    
  30. Pochard    
  31. Robin    
  32. Rook    
  33. Shelduck 2   
  34. Teal    
  35. Tufted Duck    
  36. Wigeon    
  37. Woodpigeon    
  38. Wren

No comments:

Post a Comment