Active Garden

   Sorry I've not written for a couple of weeks but been busy with
   work and kids but it has been eventful around the garden,
   Peregrine zoomed in over the garden yesterday catching a
   Starling that was flying away from the feeders and then gliding off
   proud of itself,and WOW there fast, a Sparrowhawk as flown through
   everyday on the lookout for a meal and a Tawny Owl also been
   visiting on the odd night screeching in the back field and one night
   it nearly hit me on the head, that'll teach me to make Owl noises but
   it was beautiful to see in flight.

   Bullfinch, Goldfinch, Greenfinch and Chaffinch have been visiting
   regular and also a couple of Linnets are still turning up to the feeders
   which I find unusual and there always with the Goldfinch, a fair few
   mammals have also been visiting which are great to see.

Staveley to Adel Dam

 
   Set off to Staveley in high hopes this morning hoping for sunshine
   and plenty of Wildlife and got neither apart from half an hour of
   some sun and good lighting but after that it was just cloudy and dull,
   and the bird & wildlife were in hiding or miles away although they
   could be heard well enough, anyway after 3 hours of nothing I decided
   to call it a day which is a shame as its the first time this reserve has let
   me down as it is one of my favourites.

   On the way home I had a brainwave and decided to pop into Adel Dam
   as this is another of my favourite reserves and I'm so glad I did as the
   Birdlife was on form and on show, 3 Kingfishers, 3 Heron, Nuthatch,
   5 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Green Woodpecker flypast but alas no
   Mandarin Ducks, hope they're ok or they might have moved on as a Mink
   is on the warpath, it has been seen everyday for the last two weeks so I
   think its time for traps to be put down to help the local wildlife.

Fairburn Ings in the Sun

    Finally got out and about today after all my hospital visits
    for me and then my daughter but all ok now.
    Anyway decided to venture down to Fairburn Ings after
    hearing about the Spoonbills breeding there, I think it must
    have been too hot for the birds as there wasn't much about really
    or any that stood around long enough for a photograph apart from
    a young Bittern that had been seen close up by a lot of people
    including DP who I bumped into down there, but guess what I
    missed it but I did get to see 3 Spoonbills from about a mile away
    it was just one of those days especially after I ended up crashing
    into the car in front on the way home, how there was no damage
    to either car I'll never know.
   
    Lots of Little Egrets were about on the reserve, 2 Buzzards were
    seen and a Green Woodpecker in flight and a couple of Willow Tits
    and all the regular birds that visit the reserve, it was nice to see a
    Greenshank at Lin Dyke and two Kestrels dancing about over the
    fields, I also bumped into Steve C and his wife who go on the Hudds
    & Halifax bird trips both very keen birders and a lovely couple.
    I then drove up to St Aidans at Swillington but it looked very quiet,
    I asked a few birders if they'd seen owt but all said not much seen, so
    with being roasted under the sun decided to have a coffee in the hut
    and then set off home.

    Garden has been fantastic for bird life the last couple of weeks, its
    been really busy, Goldfinch, Bullfinch, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Great Tits
    and Linnet all visiting regular and a daily Sparrowhawk fly through, one
    of which nearly hit my arm as it swooped past me. I find it kind of strange
    with the Linnet visiting regular, one visited a few months ago for a couple
    of days but now theres 2 a male and a female and they seem to be hanging
    around with the Goldfinch all the time, also had Deer and a Frog in the
    garden.
    So bye for now, I think I'm gonna try Staveley tomorrow weather permitting.