Saturday, January 28, 2006

Cold Saturday

Went over to Felbrigg Park first thing this morning. It was bright, crisp and bitterly cold with a biting north easterly breeze ( I'm not a great fan of winter!). Anyway there were plenty of birds around with lots of Redwings and Fieldfares, several drumming Great spotted Woodpeckers and some noisy Egyptian Geese. Best of all though was the hoped for appearance of a Hawfinch. Initially it showed only briefly before disappearing for half an hour, it then returned and was present for longer though still being characteristically awkward. At one point it was joined by a second bird in flight though that one seemed to depart back into woodland. Managed to get a distant record shot.



Hawfinch

Apparently yesterday afternoon a Little Egret was present at Felbrigg Lake, this is the first record at this location that I've heard of, although I have seen one in the parish.

Back home and the big news is the hatching of our Angle Shades, as usual a cracking looking creature, but I fear that release in this cold weather may not be to its liking.


Its a boy!...or a girl!


Noticed quite a few oak galls on the trees along the edge of the pond. I think these are caused by tiny wasps so as to house their larve, several had small 'drill' holes.


Oak Gall

Usual birds present around the garden.

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