First Days Birding

I had the first days birding of the new year today, I spent the day locally getting mainly the bread and butter stuff. The best birds of the had to be Arctic Redpoll, Bittern and 25 flyover Waxwings which were a really nice surprise, all at Rainton Meadow. Also a Long-eared Owl at an undisclosed site was another highlight.

Here is my list for the day, not completely in order but close!:

1 - Black-headed Gull

2 - Blackbird

3 - Collared Dove

4 - Magpie

5 - Long-tailed Tit

6 - Great black-backed Gull

7 - Herring Gull

8 - Common Gull

9 - Teal

10 - Mallard

11 - Moorhen

12 - Coot

13 - Lapwing

14 - Canada Goose

15 - Pheasant

16 - Jackdaw

17 - Reed Bunting

18 - Bullfinch

19 - Willow Tit

20 - Chaffinch

21 - Goldcrest

22 - Blue Tit

23 - Great Tit

24 - Robin

25 - Woodpigeon

26 - Greylag Goose

27 - Kestrel

28 - Goldfinch

29 - Siskin

30 - Lesser Redpoll

31 - Mealy Redpoll

32 - Mute Swan

33 - Whooper Swan

34 - Grey Heron

35 - Cormorant

36 - Bittern

37 - Redwing

38 - Starling

39 - Arctic Redpoll

40 - Long-eared Owl

41 - Waxwing (25)

42 - Fieldfare

43 - House Sparrow

44 - Carrion Crow
45 - Dunnock

Here are two videos, one of feeding Bullfinch and Chaffinch. The other video of a Long-eared Owl at an undisclosed site, the bird was not flushed and I left shortly after to avoid any disturbance.

Long-eared Owl at roost

Bullfinch and Chaffinch feeding

My parents got me an iPhone for Christmas and I will hopefully be getting videos as well as pictures from now on.

(Long-eared Owl - Andrew Kinghorn)

All in all a very successful day and a great start to what will hopefully be a great year for birding. Until next time, Foghorn out!