15th Yellowhammer, Linnet
16th Goldcrest & Reed Bunting
this last week has seen a steady increase in numbers of male Skylarks & Chaffinches tuning up.
Other males ive heard so far in 2012 include :-
Dipper, Stock Dove, Yaffle, Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush, Long-eared Owl from New Year, Tawny Owl, Little Owl, Short-eared Owl, Barn Owl, Woodcock roding last few days January, GSW drumming mid Jan, Robin, Wren, Dunnock, Grey Partridges paired up, calling & chasing, Red-legged Partridges at dusk from New Year, Bullfinch, Greenfinch, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit with Kestrel, Buzzard & Peregrine all very vocal whilst airborne with their respective mates.
Willow Tit, Corn Bunting, Skylark & Nuthatch were all proclaiming territory very early this year
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Elsewhere a Valentines walk by Chester Sewage Works was very productive, producing a huge dog Otter with a head like a basketball, a pie-bald Stoat, a large Sea Trout kelt at Congburn and a Hare. a dozen Goosander with 7 drakes in a scrum for the bread - Mallards not standing a chance !
One of the female Mandarins remains though wildfowl dropping off again as the local pools de-ice.
Along at Rainton, The Annual Muppet Show continues... this year secateurs being employed to allow better photographic opportunities ! - Come to think of it, calling these 'people' Muppets is actually an insult to the Muppets themselves...... Words fail....
