Panasonic Lumix
A bright warmer day but still a slight NE>3 but feeling spring like with the first of the Wheatears appearing in Calderdale, Calderbirds.
After a full winter and about 1 cwt of apples stuck in the front garden Hawthorn today it finally paid off when 6 Waxwings landed and fed briefly at 0830hrs. Unfortunately I was at work but got the call from Lynda although by the time she had got her camera sorted they were gone. A great garden tick.
About 30 minutes later I received a call from CK at Roper Lane reporting 8 in his garden. This has got to be the best year ever for Queensbury Waxwings and all due to the lack of Rowan berries forcing the birds into gardens to eat Cotoneaster and of course apples.
A full bag of apples went out tonight and the Hawthorn looks like an apple tree in full fruit, see what tomorrow brings.
Next was a call from the owner of the local Tawny Owl garden to say there were now 2 owls present and sat out in the sun showing well. By the time I could get there 1 bird was showing well but the other had snooked back into the foliage but fortunately the owner had taken the 3 top excellent photos of the pair together. Again stonking clear photos from a Panasonic Lumix.
Thanks very much for the call and photos, unfortunately he has to remain nameless as he,s a well known person in the area and we need to keep the location undisclosed for breeding purposes and the safety of the birds.
Another check of Tracys Wheatear field late afternoon proved fruitless for Wheatears although it held a few Meadow Pipits whilst Back Lane Ogden produced 2f and 1m Crossbill but distant views due to footpaths blocked with snow drifts. Otherwise just the usual sp. were present.
Watch this space for a Fly Flatts Wheatear in the morning.
BS