31 December 2011

Bird feeders

This afternoon the long tails returned for the first time this season, over a dozen munching through the fat balls. We had a fieldfare yesterday too. It's still unseasonably warm.

22 December 2011

Stupidly warm

It is really, ridiculously warm today. 14 in town and 12 at Sillas. This morning the high azure blue sky dotted with fluffy clouds was more appropriate for June than for December, a squadron of swifts would not have looked out of place, but the flight of finches looked equally good.

18 December 2011

First snow

Woke this morning to the first real snow of the winter, only a dusting but enough to count. Stayed all day, some melt which has now frozen solid.
Lots of birds including three robins on the feeders, also the first brambling of this winter. A less welcome visitor in a large rat was seen this morning, around 11am , under the feeders, despite being 'scared' off it returned several times. The rat traps have been deployed, we'll check occupancy in the morning.

16 December 2011

A wildlife ramble by car!

Went to Glaisdale this morning to collect some beef and on route saw over a dozen bullfinches at the top of Egton Banks and then going along the bottom (by Tracey's house) a dipper standing on rocks in the river. Both were most welcome.
Roads were a little icy and there was some sleet on the way back from town - late morning. Hail this afternoon and early evening.

07 December 2011

December 2011

Like November started warm but soon cooled down with the first dusting of snow on Monday (5th). Freezing rain over night and now gale force winds and still cold.
Birds are eating a feederful of sunflower seeds and one of buggy nibbles every day plus fat balls, nuts and ground food.
It's working though because yesterday we had a male bullfinch on a fly through, very handsome he was too. We have frequent visitor of a marshy-willow tit too but the long tails haven't really been back this year yet, I've heard them a few times but no visits to the feeding station.

November 2012

October 2012

September 2012

August 2012

July 2012

June 2012

May 2012

April 2012

March 2012

February 2012

A new project

January 2012

Almost a year

How did that happen  - well I kept meaning to transfer paper notes to online and somehow it never happened but it also stopped me from adding new ones.  That stops now!
Several blank posts will follow, one for each missing month and then back to regular updates.