quantity wise there wasn't really much about, the wood seemed very quiet, with only a few tits and wrens heard, but not really anything to see. but just before getting to holme pit, an adult Buzzard flew overhead and glided above the trees for some time, calling as it went.
at holme pit there was also not much to see. a few Tufted Duck, Mallard and Coot.
However, looking to the sky for buzzards, i noticed a raptor flying very high overhead. Too small for a buzzard, not a kestrel, too large for a sparrowhawk, after viewing for a while i later confirmed it to be my 1st ever Peregrine Falcon.
A few other Buzzards were seen around the area, hunting and calling, 1st time i've heard them calling since late summer. in the alder plantation was another buzzard, which with further observation seemed to look a little strange. it is a possibility that it was the Red-tailed Hawk that has been resident at the site for 4 years, but not 100% so i'm not going to 'list' it. guess i'll have to keep my eyes peeled. a single Mistle Thrush was seen feeding in the field between the alder plantation and the rough wood.
saw 3 Jays making a racket in the rough wood, and one in the field opposite, and walking down davids lane, another was seen in the alder plantation. Green Woodpeckers were heard calling but wouldn't show themselves so no 1st sighting for fred, who was with me!
lastly, the weir field. it was very windy so i thought it was going to be very quiet, and a look for Snipe in the yellowgate pond was unsuccessful. however, a couple of Kestrel were seen hunting. There were a group of lapwing, i counted 25ish, though there may have been more, and these truly made my day as they were displaying and calling (what a strange beautiful noise they make!) There was also a HUGE number of fieldfare, 200-300 birds on the field, and several Skylark were heard singing, and one was spotted. Other birds of note were Song Thrush and a single Reed Bunting, my first for the area.
No good photos from today i'm afraid.
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