An hour spent at Littlemoor Park mid p.m. in the steadily falling snow following up Denises report of Yellowhammer this morning proved fruitless and I was unable to connect with any good size finch flocks. The few finches around were keeping high moving from one tree top to another. Several tit flocks were feeding but comprised only of Blue and Great. Three Stock doves were a pleasant suprise and several Blackbirds were searching through the leaves. Habitat at the top of the park, a stones throw from Denises house, is ideal Yellowhammer territory along the fence between the meadow and the park. the fence is heavily overgrown and a variety of Robins, Wrens and Dunnocks were in this area,it reminded me of the Yellowhammer area at Fairburn.
The large flock that Denise saw could just have been a feeding party going through but time will tell.
Winter thrushes have been moving through this pm with good numbers of Fieldfare, Redwing and Starling all >NW seen from Foxhill, Littlemoor and Shelf Moor.
By the way Denise, the last sighting of Yellowhammer by me in the Queensbury area was Queensbury Station June 1965 some 46 years since when I was a mere teenager and Nigel was in his late 30s.
Foxhill,
42 Fieldfare >NW
78 Redwing >NW
91 Starling >NW
Littlemoor,
3 Stock Dove
+ sev :-
Chaffinch
Greenfinch
Gt Tit, Blue Tit, Robin, Dunnock, Blackbird
Shelf Moor.
136 Redwing >NW
1 Heron at first dark >E
BS.
