One lump or three - Arl tick redpolls

Sunderland Birding 2011 getting off to a good start with 3 species of Redpolls in the Rainton Meadows area....
Tick them all while you have the chance....
but mak sure you use a pencil- apparently DNA testing cannot tell them apart...........



Arctic Redpoll ? nr Colliery Row

http://www.flickr.com/photos/48181104@N06/5315956531/in/contacts/



Whilst some of us consider the local environment & the merits of carbon free birding & our 'On Foot From Home' Listing,

this seemed to have been more a case of  'Off Home On Foot'

A very nice selection of birds in the local study area on the first 2 days of the year  including:-

Arctic, Mealy & Lesser Redpolls, Long tailed Duck, Water Rail, Long-eared Owl, Waxwing, Gooseander, Peregrine, Tree Sparrow, Kingfisher, Jack Snipe, Woodcock, Goldeneye etc etc etc

I went out on foot at 3pm on NYD & managed to see 41 species, highlights being a good view of a Bittern & a couple of roosting Long-eared Owls

Taking pics of a Leo from the public footpath

All the gear, right idea

Ive seen more birders on the patch in the last 4 weeks, than i have done in the whole of the last 10 year - lots of familiar faces, put a few of them onto a bird or two including this long range Little Owl



Some year listers ticked this cigarette packet in the hedge after i told them it was the LO

Despite the snow having all but gone, the pools are still iced up & today a couple of signs that the cold is having an effect

Watched one walking about in the snow last January

drake Wigeon dead despite having found ice free water at Chilton

Not only the weather thats exacting a toll on local wildlife - birders purposefully chasing the Bittern from pool to pool, wont be doing that bird any favours & these guys bagged a dog Fox on NYD, possibly the one id seen at dusk

Having said that a few birds making the most of the relative lull in freezing conditions :-

hunting voles



and my earliest ever singing Bullfinch, usually into February before i hear them

64 species noted.