It was just a couple of sites today before chilling out for the afternoon. I decided to go to Croxall first after last week going to Whitemoor Haye so early and not getting many birds. It was just getting light in Alrewas so i set off and, passing Whitemoor haye, the fog came in. Doh. I carried on to Croxall and was planning on sitting it out but as I got there it wasn't bad at all. The complete lake was frozen so any ducks or geese seen would be fly-overs or on the River Tame. So it was from the car park up to the hide. Birds noted were Canada Geese, Fieldfare, Goosander, Black-headed Gull, lesser Black-backed Gull, Blackbird, Dunnock, Chaffinch, Long-tailed Tit, Wren, Carrion Crow, Marsh Tit, Redwing, Blue Tit, Grey Heron, Wood Pigeon, Goldfinch, 30+ Greenfinch, and about 15 Lapwing on the ice. It was not worth going into the hide so it was straight through to the east side. Again the lake was completely frozen so I decided to head around the back of the lake towards the river hoping for the ducks including, hopefully, a Smew, fingers crossed eh. Birds noted were Rook, Skylark, Mute Swan, Tufted Duck, Cormorant, Teal, Mallard, Goldeneye, Kingfisher, Coot, Greylag Geese, Redshank, Little Grebe and a couple of Pheasants. There was some great numbers of ducks on the river in the new wides, not suprising really as every bit of still water is frozen. At one point a group of about 30 Goldeneye flew down the river plus a few already on the river. From here back to thye car all I added was a Jay.
5-12-10, Whitemoor Haye.
With the pool completely frozen bar a small patch by the inlet I just concentrated on the lanes. Birds noted were Tree Sparrow, Wren, Starling, Carrion Crow, Black-headed Gull, Buzzard, Lapwing, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting, Magpie, Robin, Wigeon heard in the distance from the river, Dunnock, Chaffinch, Wood Pigeon, Fieldfare, 11 Grey Partridge, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Canada Geese, Skylark, 312 Mute Swan, Long-tailed Tit, Snipe and a Pied Wagtail.
I was looking at a group of 6 Lapwing when I noticed a bird move from the edge of the scope, then another, then another one. Skylark and in total 55 feeding in the field. Superb. It was a day for another big group of birds too. As I approached the field with the swans in a group of Wood Pigeon flew over and there was easy 2500 to 3000 of them, if not more, they just kept coming. Unbelievable.
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