I Finally Gave In - Greenhill Gardens, Brent Reservior, Totteridge Valley - 18th-19th March 201719/3/2017 I was originally not going to do any birding this weekend, however this all changed on Saturday afternoon. On Saturday afternoon I found a female Black Redstart on a house that backs onto the Dollis Brook which was a nice surprise, and now confirms my maybe sighting of a female on a house near Moss Hall School earlier in the year. In the afternoon I headed out on my weekly bike ride which takes me along High road between Finchley central and High Barnet, and then back along the Brook on the way home. On the way out I originally wasn't going to stop, however I glimpsed from the road a mass of Tufted Ducks bobbing up and down in Greenhill Gardens so went to check them out. Sure enough once I had arrived I was surrounded by Tufted Ducks. There were 24 in total and a massive improvement on the last visit when there was only one. My theory as to why they are here is simple. In winter very few people come out to feed the ducks and therefor the ducks move on to find a more reliable place. As soon as the weather gets warmer and nicer more people turn up to feed the ducks and so they all decide to come back. I am sure there are other reasons too, but this I believe is the main one. As for other birds there weren't many. The ever fluctuating number of Canada Geese was at 29 this week and Mallard at 22, 11 Coot, 6 Moorhen, and 2 Herring Gulls were also present, and a Wren dived into the bushes in front of me just before I headed out back on the main road. Whilst I was waiting for a gap in the traffic a flock of 7 Starling landed in one of the trees next to me. Now onto today. My dad and I set out for the Brent Reservior at just before 8 this morning. When we arrived we were greeted by a truly magnificent Black Swan mixed in with a group of 28 Mute Swan near the bridge. Below: Australian Black Swan My dad and I then headed round to the public hide to try and spot one of the North American's, but with no luck. We did however pic up a pair of pintail, some Teal, 2 Greylags, 9 Gadwall, a pair of Shoveler, a large amount of Canada Geese, and a Great Crested Grebe. After checking through all the Tufted ducks present we retreated back along the path to the main road listening to Cetti's Warblers and Chiffchaffs singing away in the bushes. We then headed to the viewing platform across the road and checked through all the Tufted Ducks viewable from there to find only a Pochard to add to the day list. A cormorant also fished in the middle of the Reservior and Common Gulls, and Black Headed Gulls became quite numerous for a brief period. We then headed back towards the bridge and another quick scan only brought up a tail-less Grey Wagtail and some Mallards. Next we headed towards the keyholder hides and prayed that someone would be in there. On the way we saw a pair of Coal tit, as well as Blackbirds, Great Tits, Long-tailed Tit, and Goldfinch. As we arrived at the hide we were in luck the 2 Andrews were in there, and they put us straight onto the drake Ring-necked Duck although it was miles away. (The Scaup we found out had only been seen briefly in the morning and wasn't refound again till 3pm.) From the hide we also saw masses of Shoveler, Teal, Canada Geese, and Tufted Ducks. Just before we left the hide a Peregrine steamed through causing unrest about the birds and a pair of Great Crest Grebes became visible at the back of the 'bird Sanctuary' area. We then headed for home with one last check for the Scaup and an interview with the times. (fingers crossed that the interview will appear in tomorrows paper!) Above: Great Crested Grebes, with Tufted Duck Below: Male Shoveler Above: Tufted Ducks, 2nd bird from the right is the Ring-necked Duck! Below: Another Great Crested Grebe The rest of the morning and afternoon was spent volunteering at the farm again. Birding wise it was pretty quite. 2 Stock Dove, 3 Goldfinch, and 3 Pied Wagtail all came over when I was travelling between the valley and the farm quite a bit in the morning and a Grey Heron also came over very low. Then the rest of my day was spent on the back of the tractor which from my point of view is perfect. The first tractor ride I added Green Woodpecker, 3 Canada Geese, 2 Egyptian Geese, Robin, and 2 Herring Gulls to my day list, and yes don't worry this is all part of the job. Also the resident flock of 200+ Jackdaw and a similar amount of Crows kept the visitors entertained. In between the first and the second tractor ride 3 more Stock Dove came over. On the second tractor ride 3 Common Buzzard and a Pheasant were the only species of note to add. The Third brought up 2 Pied Wagtail and a Great Tit. The Fourth a Starling and the Fifth in a row 2 Mallards. After and hour and a half on the tractor it was time to start putting the animals on the farm back in their fields. When I was up getting the Alpacas I checked out the pond and a small bird zipped passed me. I though it might have been the local Firecrest, but since it gave no call and I couldn't relocate it I gave it a pass. On sheep wash pond there was 3 Mallards (all Drakes), 2 Canada Geese, and a pair of Coot. 4 Long-tailed Tits zipped through the trees as I headed down to the valley and once in the valley 5 Meadow Pipits came over heading NW. After talking to some members of the public and packing everything away all the Staff and Volunteers at Belmont Children's farm called it a day. Above: Common Buzzard Now after a jam packed few days of birding I sit here and hope that my interview about young birders in London will end up in the Times tomorrow. Although I missed one North London Mega, I ended up getting the more important one in my books taking me up to 159 for my British list. If the Scaup hangs around I may give it another go. As for my birding is concerned a school trip next week will limit my time birding, however I will try and bird on the trip. Bring on April and my trips that are planned...
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
March 2017
|