Queensbury South

0915-1120 hours in bright sunlight and a reminder that a variable W'ly blow can be annoying at times, as if I needed one.
Littlemoor Park was reasonably active, even to the extent of a modicum of bird music at the start.
Nuthatch, 12 Redwing, 2 Blackbird, 3 Chaffinch, 1 Goldfinch ditto Coal Tit. Blue/Gt Tits, Robin. Dunnocks.

Then the fun stopped as I hit the track by the open fields; there was simply a virtual emptiness of birds.
From Giles Hill & Cross Lane to Corporal & Green Lane then home, I managed c20 small gulls, 12 Woodpigeon , a couple of Maggot-Pie and Jackdaws. Oh and 2 House Sparrow.

So ends my last local birding session of 2019 the most disastrous year I've endured during my nigh on 20 year sojourn in the place where the most life can be found in the local cemetery. I daren't even contemplate what 2020 is going to be like. Maybe the year I finally manage to ditch all optics and take up a new pastime, like Snowboarding or Alligator wrasslin' perhaps?

Soil Hill to Mixenden

1230-1500 hours. An endurance test but I needed the exercise; birds very hard to come by.

Soil Hell produced a passing Raven and a handful of small gulls.

Back Lane had a horde of c100 Woodpigeon in flight no doubt cheesed off with nearby shotguns a blasting.

Ogden Res was abysmal with just the usual small gulls on the water.

Nearer to the Golf course rough I managed a Greenfinch, pr Jay, 4 Redwing plus 1 each Blackbird & Mistle Thrush.

34 Canada were in a field near to Mixenden Res which sported a f Goldeneye, 1 each Cormorant & Goosander. 1 LBBG was in wth numerous small gulls. 

Falmouth Herring Gull Info

I looked up the EURING Colour Ring project for the Herring Gull seen on Thursday 19/12/2019 to find that it was a local bird. Click this link if interested...

Newquay Birds

One of 5 Rock Pipit seen

Truro and Falmouth

A washout truth be told so birds were hard come by.

A Buzzard near Truro where only Gulls & Dullards were seen on the flooded river.

c70 Lapwing circling over nearby fields and a Grey Wagtail by the roadside.  

Another Buzzard seen on the way to Falmouth along with 4 Shelduck.

Gulls again in Falmouth harbour but one Herring Gull gifted me 3 shots of it perched approx 2 metres away wearing a blue leg ring W:019. I'll report this to EURING a.s.a.p; I've already reported the bird to the local constabulary for theft.

I had a portion of Cheese & Bean pasty left  over; you should have seen the speed at which it went sailing down the gulls gullet.

Newquay Circular

What a slog but what a great day out too in the sparsely clouded blue sky with just a slight breeze whispering. Part of the enjoyment was too see the Atlantic breakers beat the hell out of the rocks while nearby the world renowned Fistral Beacn was smothered in surfers.

Where to start with the birds? Well I suppose with the absentees; I'd forgotten that Auks split the scene when late Autumn arrives, Doh!🤡. However there was still enough interest to keep a landlocked hillbilly happy.

4 Cormorant, 1 Shag, 6 GBBG, few LBBG, numerous Herring & small gull species. The stretch of cliffs just across the frog n toad held in the region of 70 Fulmar with a fair few being open to having their mugshots recorded.

The most common wader was Oystercatcher with 7 Turnstone making it to second place. When I hit the estuary 4 Curlew & 2 Redshank gave reasonable to good views. 2 Little Egret were here also, one very close and confiding.

I was very happy to get 5 Rock Pipit which were supported by about 9 Meadow Pipit. A single Skylark flew over the heathland which also produced 3 of the 4  Stonechat seen in total.

Other players: 5 Greenfinch, 8/9 Goldfinch, 3 Pied Wagtail, Blackbirds, Dunnocks, Rock Doves & Woodpigeons, House Sparrow do very well here.

My camera presented me with a problem; I took so many photographs it became too heavy for me to lift. If I get my strength back I should be able to publish some in 2020 😀

Journey To Cornwall

Not much doing on the way down due to the Grey skies and low temperatures methinks.

Managed 4 Buzzard & a Kestrel from the coach along with 1 LBBG and some small gulls.

The service station stop at Gloucestercestershire came up with a Wren, 3 Moorhen, pr Pied Wagtail & a pr of unid briefly seen calling small finch types.

A day out at the coast and estuary on Tuesday so I should pick up my first cliff dwellers for the year (yes I have left it late).

It should be interesting to see to what degree I've shaken off the unwanted stat boosting websites that prompted the header message.

Queensbury to Mixenden

Hard graft but I needed to stop crawling across the ceiling and get the hell out.

Raggalds had a modicum of small gulls both on the flood and sports field.

I reluctantly dragged myself up and over Soil Hell but it coughed up a cracking bird. A Grey Plover took flight and flew toward then down the N slope calling three times. This is my first of the species in 21 months up here.

Ogden Res was quiet but at least the Kingfisher was out busily fishing. A Reed Bunting and a few Goldfinch were also present and the small gulls.

9 Fieldfare 1 Redwing ditto Blackbird & Mistle Thrush were at Hunter Hill bottom as were 9 Canada. A kronking Raven was upstairs.

Mixenden Res held a load of small gulls as well as 2 f Goosander & a Goldeneye. 2 Moorhen & a GSW also present.

Swillington Ings

Courtesy of DW along with DM; a very satisfactory morning session was had.
Hundreds of Lapwing, 4 Golden Plover, 2 Curlew. Numerous Wigeon, several Gadwall & Shoveler, couple Pochard, 5 Teal, 1 Goosander. Few Cormorant & GCG, 1 Grey Heron.

6/7 Kestrel, 1 Buzzard,  pr Peregrine. 6 Stonechat, 3 Reed Bunting, 2 Yellowhammer. 3 calling Cettis Warbler.

Couple Meadow Pipit ditto Redwing, 5 Fieldfare, 9 Blackbird, 1 Bullfinch.

Canadas, Greylags, Coots & Moorhens.

Queensbury to Mixenden

A good slog without too many birds to spoil ones enjoyment!

c60 Lapwing at Mountain and a Pied Wagtail with a few small gulls further down the frog n toad.

Jusr 1 each Snipe & Meadow Pipit on Soil Hill.

Ogden Res: 1 Kestrel, 7 LTT, 1 LBBG & smaller gulls.

This Woodpigeon appeared to be having health problems

Nothing seen on trek across to Mixenden Res which held 1 each Cormorant, f Goldeneye & Moorhen 

Queensbury South Awakens

0940-1140 hrs with a really slow start in the park which held a vast amount of nothing much. Sloshing about the field below the golf course I did manage 3 Redwing & 2 Fieldfare with 7 Goldfinch & 1 Grey Wagtail in the track that leads to Giles Hill Lane. Hereabouts was a solitary Herring Gull alongside a couple of BHG.

c55 Lapwing were back in their usual haunt with 4 Common Gull & c16 BHG nearby. A Kestrel flew across > SW. I decided to give any Snipe present the day off due to the cold.

Green Lane was busy for a change, starting with the unusual site of 2 Moorhen feeding in a grass field. The bushes are jumping with untouched berries so it was a relief to see 5 Blackbird and c12 Redwing nervously fluttering about.

A Green Woodpecker called continually from this area and a Pied Wagtail was also present.