My birding weekend started on Friday in Holmfirth to add another to my “Patch List” in the form of a Mandarin Duck (147) I found them were they had been last reported but now there were three male birds and not two as reported.
Mandarin Duck ♂
These birds are on the BOURC list has Cat C1E*, which means :-
C > Species that although introduced, now derive from the resulting self-sustaining populations
C1 > Naturalized introduced species – Species that have occured only as a result of introduction
E > Species that have been recorded as introductions, human-assisted transportees or escapees from captivity, and whose breeding populations (if any) are thought not to be self-sustaining. Species in Category E that have bred in the wild in Britian are designated E*. Category E species form no part of the British List (unless already included within Categories A,B or C)
Understand that, it means they are on the British list, along with the Mandarins the usual Mallards. On then to Langsett to try and find some Finch flocks after a couple of hours searching only birds seen were Red Grouse, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Goldcrest and Coal Tit, no finch.
Saturday saw me taking a trip up to the Longshaw Estate to see the finch flock reported here, whilst travelling to the Estate in one of the surronding fields near by I caught sight of the largest flock of Redwing I have seen this year must have 150+ birds along with a only a couple of Fieldfares. Anyway shortly after arrival at Longshaw I was soon feasting upon birds such as Lesser Redpoll, Common (Mealy) Redpoll, Brambling, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, and Siskin. Along with this finches in the surrounding trees Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit and Nuthatch a plenty. I didn’t spend much time here being so high up in the high peak I was getting cold very quick ending up with blue hands and shivering needless to say the heater was on full blast when I got back to the car.
Male ♂ Brambling (Winter)
After thawing out I made my way out of Yorkshire to Clumber Park to try and see another finch the Hawfinch. Certain areas of the park are free but I wanted to be near to the Chapel so I had to pay £5 for the priviledge. Okay I set off at a slow pace seeing plenty of Nuthatch, Great Tit, Blue Tit and Chaffinch, Jackdaws playing around the chapel itself. No luck on the Hawfinch so deepr into the wood along the well made footpaths catching sight of Blackbird, Treecreeper, Greenfinch, Siskin, Great Spotted Woodpecker and a pair of Marsh Tit, no Hawfinch. I had a quick look around the lake thought I might as well Mute Swan, Black headed Gulls, Canada Geese, Mallards, Tufted Ducks, Moorhens and Coots all the usual stuff, so one last look around the chapel Lesser Spotted Woodpecker new one for the day and another Marsh Tit but no Hawfinch. Talking with other people Hawfinch hadn’t been sighted that day so I didn’t feel to bad
Nuthatch
Day List :-
Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Grelag Goose, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Moorhen, Coot, Black Headed Gull, Woodpigeon, Stock Dove, Rook, Crow, Magpie, Jackdaw, Red Grouse, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long Tailed Tit, Coal Tit, Marsh Tit, Goldcrest, Robin, Blackbire, Redwing, Fieldfare, Mistle Thrush, Treecreeper, Nuthatch, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Lesser Redpoll, Mealy Redpoll, Siskin, Brambling,
Huddsbirder 