| From: | <tony.usher@zen.co.uk> |
| To: | KOS update Usher Tony <tony.usher@zen.co.uk> |
| Sent: | 29/03/2020 21:13 |
| Attachments: | Barn Owl.jpeg (image/jpeg, 34 KB), midges.jpg (image/pjpeg, 13 KB) |
| Subject: | Knutsford Nature News #4 |
We tried a new walk this afternoon - from our house to The Swan, walking up Cicely Mill Lane & New Lane to Rostherne (to see what time the post goes!) and back home, just over 7km. That’s was enough – the wind was bitter.
Cicely Mill Pond (private angling pond) held 2 Cormorants, pair of Mute Swans, pair of Mallards, Great Crested Grebe. The woods along the lane look promising but no Chiffchaffs heard. On Mereside Road, on a partially-flooded field, were 2 Oystercatchers!
Steve and Gill Barber are still finding some Winter thrushes. They'll be on their way north soon. (the birds that is. S&G won't be going anywhere soon!).
After Saturday passed without a birdy exercise walk from home we felt we couldn’t miss out today. Despite an icy wind from the east five Buzzards were up circling north of Marton and two more to the south-east. 24 Fieldfare were on a field on the edge of the village and a lone Redwing fed on ivy berries in an oak tree. We didn’t hear any overflying Meadow Pipits today and fewer Chiffchaffs were heard than on Friday. Best sighting of the day was a Treecreeper taking nest material into a gap where a piece of bark had come partly away from a birch stump – lovely!
More Redwings from Jill Thornley up in Cumbria.
This morning our Red legged Partridge were viewing the area in front of kitchen window. They have been inspecting most of the garden for a while now. Although alike I can tell the male has more black on throat. They pretend to just browse but after a while you see he makes himself very visible while she inspects every nook and cranny under bushes. This is the second time I have seen her cover the area this week and I reckon they are more interested than they are letting on! Last year a Helen saw them with young just the once but I failed to spot any. The sparrowhawk usually sorts things out.
Tonight at 7pm a flock of Redwing about 30 flew in from west, landed in a sycamore while I scoped them and within 5 mins had continued East They gorge on yew berries in the Autumn but I don't remember ever seeing them before this late in the Spring. Right place right time. Lots of.
Small patches of snow on Helvellyn and Haweswater fells. Very cold easterly wind today , though we did go out and put some more bird boxes out . A job that should have been done ages ago.
Roger is enjoying vast quantities of home made bread, biscuits, quiches , some of which manage to escape to the freezer.
Nice to hear from Roger Barnes again this evening!
Thanks everyone - keep them coming.
