A Lesser Redpoll pair - and more garden birds

A small flock of Siskin continued to visit the feeders in Andy M's garden last week, joined more occasionally by a Brambling, and on Friday they were joined by a pair of Lesser Redpoll - all three species being members of the finch family that visit the UK in winter. 

Lesser Redpoll - with a characteristic red crown, 

and in the case of the male, pinky-red chest patches.

Male Lesser Redpoll (below) and two male Siskin

Female (left) and male (right) Siskin

A trio of male Siskin and a Greenfinch

Male Siskin

Male Siskin

Female Lesser Redpoll

Female Lesser Redpoll

Male Chaffinch

Robin

Male Blackcap taking a quick drink from the pool

Male Reed Bunting - with the distinctive black head, cheeks and bib,

with contrasting white neck ring and moustache

Male Reed Bunting - showing black cheeks and bib, with white moustachial stripes

Female Reed Bunting - with a more streaked belly, and a chestnut-brown crown 

with a paler central stripe.  Females also have the white moustachial stripes, but this one

has unusually dark cheeks, which tend to fade during the year.

Female Reed Bunting 

A few weekend birds

David F had a welcome early morning visitor to his bird feeders this weekend - a male Great Spotted Woodpecker - the red spot at the back of the nape distinguishing it from the female.

On his walk later on, he also saw this fine male Mallard near the Millennium Bridge

Sweet Violets - all around the village

A number of people have commented on the fine display of Sweet Violet flowers around the village at the moment.

[photo Andy M]

[photo Jennifer H]

[photo David F]

[photo Peter B]

A spring walk around Granta Park

14th March - Andy M took the opportunity to walk around Granta Park at the weekend, when there were very few people around, and nature had the place to itself.  Quietly walking through Sluice Wood, he spotted a Buzzard, intently watching and listening for any activity in the rough grass below.  

Where the sun had been shining through the trees, patches of Sweet Violet, both purple and white ones, and bright sun-burst Celandine were coming into flower, particularly alongside the river near the old footbridge. And around the buildings the Daffodils were also giving a fine display.

Near the lake, a pair of Mute Swan were 'up-ending' to get at the weed, but soon spotted Andy and headed across, in hope of some bread no-doubt.  The Canada Goose and Greylag Goose were more reticent, keeping their distance, as did the Grey Heron.  Finally, as Andy walked back across the rough ground near the new lakes, a group of Meadow Pipit and Pied Wagtail were feeding, continually dashing and stopping in search of insects.

Buzzard

Buzzard - intently watching the rough ground below

Spring sun, casting string shadows through the trees

Celandine

Celandine in a sunny patch on the river's edge

Celandine

Celandine and Sweet Violet

Sweet Violet

The pale form of Sweet Violet

The tiny Speedwell flower low in the grass

The river was running clear and fast through Sluice Wood

Mute Swan

Mute Swan coming in hope of a tasty titbit

Canada Goose

Greylag Goose

A wary Grey Heron keeping a watchful eye

Meadow Pipit feeding in the rough grass

Daffodils putting on a fine display

Pied Wagtail flocks on Perse fields

13th March.  Over the last week or so, on his regular walks, David F has been seeing good sized flocks of up to 40 Pied Wagtail feeding on the Perse sports fields.  Today he managed to get close enough to take a photo.  He also took the opportunity to record a few of the other birds feeding there:

Pied Wagtail - dashing about, chasing flies

A determined-looking Rook, striding out

More distant Fieldfare also in search of food

Brambling and Siskin - and other colourful garden birds

10th March - like many, Andy M has been working from home during lockdown, and is lucky enough to have a good view of the birds coming and going in his garden. 

Despite the somewhat drab weather, a colourful selection of birds were seen during the week, including a male Brambling - a more unusual finch that visits the UK during the winter. In this case, it appeared to be part of a mixed flock of mainly Chaffinch under the feeders. The male Brambling is similar to a Chaffinch, but has a streaked brown back, and a characteristic rufous-orange shoulder patch. The grey head, sometimes has the first patchy signs of the black head of its summer plumage showing through.

Another winter finch, the Siskin, has also started appearing on feeders in increasing numbers across the village in the last week or two. The male Siskin is a small, but strikingly-coloured finch, with a smart black cap, bright yellow-green cheeks and rump, a green streaked back, contrasting black and yellow wing pattern, and an obviously forked tail.

A pair of Red-legged Partridge also appeared under the feeders, along with a pair of male Reed Bunting, both being unusual visitors to Andy's garden.

Male Brambling (far right), similar to the male Chaffinch (centre), 

but with a mottled back and rufous orange shoulder patch

Male Brambling (centre), with Chaffinch (left and right), and Greenfinch (far left)

Male Brambling (facing away centre), with Chaffinch and Greenfinch

And here come the Red-legged Partridge, sneaking down the garden towards the feeders

Red-legged Partridge - an unusual visitor to Andy's garden

Red-legged Partridge 

The small but strikingly colourful male Siskin (left), and a Goldfinch

Male Siskin showing the characteristic yellowy-green

streaked back, strongly yellow cheeks and rump, and 

pronounced black and yellow wing markings

Two male Reed Bunting - note the chestnut-streaked back, dark head and 

characteristic white neck ring and moustache

Male Reed Bunting

Jay