Having dropped the car off at a local garage on the island for its annual service tomorrow, I walked back home via the butterfly reserve and lower horse paddock.
I didn't time it particularly well, as the sun was dropping like a stone. However there was just enough light to see, though not for taking any decent photos, of the 2 Fieldfare and 28 Redwing in the horse paddock. I say 28 Redwing, as that number dropped to 27 when a female Sparrowhawk swooped in and snatched one off the ground.
There were a further 17 Redwing heading north over Inmosthay Lane when I dropped my car off.
Other highlights were a Grey Heron flying north in front of the cottage as I got home. Two Meadow Pipits in the horse paddock, plus 3 Song Thrushes here as well.
Birds Recorded:
1 Grey Heron
1 Sparrowhawk
3 Herring Gull
Wood Pigeon
2 Meadow Pipit
1 Pied Wagtail
Dunnock
Robin
Blackbird
2 Fieldfare
45/44 Redwing
3 Song Thrush
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Goldfinch
Other highlights were a Grey Heron flying north in front of the cottage as I got home. Two Meadow Pipits in the horse paddock, plus 3 Song Thrushes here as well.
Birds Recorded:
1 Grey Heron
1 Sparrowhawk
3 Herring Gull
Wood Pigeon
2 Meadow Pipit
1 Pied Wagtail
Dunnock
Robin
Blackbird
2 Fieldfare
45/44 Redwing
3 Song Thrush
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Goldfinch
A perfect silhouette of a Grey Heron as it passed the cottage as the sun was setting.
A female Sparrowhawk making off with an unfortunate Redwing, she caught in the lower horse paddock.
An adult Herring Gull having a bit of a splash in one of the many puddles in the horse paddock.
Not an adult Herring Gull, but a 3rd winter.
A Fieldfare (top) and a Redwing.
Likewise another Fieldfare (top) with 5 Redwing
Five Redwing and a Fieldfare (bottom right)
More Redwing
And another.
One on lookout on the Brambles.
Two more on the Brambles
And this awful photo, which at least shows how the Redwing got its name.
Bramble (Rubus fruticosusa)
Five days away from Christmas Day and this Bramble is still in flower!!