Thursday 17th January

The cold weather has taken its toll on Meadow birding over the last few days with the majority of the birds now having moved on. Yesterday there were two pools of free water still: one by Burgess Field gate, being fed by the stream along the edge of the NR, and one down by the boats being fed by the stream by the moorings. At the former pool yesterday there were the two SHELDUCK still as well as about 10 or so PINTAIL as well as a good concentration of ducks trying to sit out the cold weather. A few Golden Plover were flying around and a single DUNLIN was reportedly still with them. A few SNIPE were flying around and landing on the Hinterland.

 The two Shelduck yesterday

By today the Shelduck and Pintail had moved on as had most of the birds. The moorings pool still had a few ducks on it today, mostly Teal with a few Wigeon, a couple of Lapwings and a SNIPE. Along the Castle Mill Stream a few sheltering Teal can still be found and there was a large mixed flock of thrushes in the trees there though I've still yet to see a Fieldfare this year. 
 
A calling Green Woodpecker, the Snipe and a reported CHIFFCHAFF by the canal yesterday gave three more year ticks for the Patch over the last two days.

1 comment:

  1. Hello again!

    A fieldfare landed in a tree opposite our kitchen window in Millway Close (Upper Wolvercote) this morning and stuck around for a few minutes - first one we've seen this year too. We also saw either a marsh or willow tit on the the bird feeders by Godstow Lock on Friday afternoon - it didn't call so not sure which... but either way, nice to see :)

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