Monday 31st December 2007

Cloudy, Light SW
The day started quite well, with 4 Tawny Owls heard within 20 mins of leaving the house. The first, was a bird calling ( again ) from the southern side of Cortonwood. The other 3 were heard calling at Hemingfield between Smithy Bridge & Tingle Bridge.

Other highlights from today ;
WOMBWELL GARDEN :

Mottled Umber




Coprinus sp


CORTONWOOD : 12 Tufted Duck, 5 Pochard & 3 Bullfinch.
Also had 2 skeins of Pink-footed Geese, both being seen from Cortonwood, but not directly over. c200 W over Hemingfield, viewed from pit-top at 11.15 & c100 W over Broomhill, viewed from Trans-Pennine Trail at 11.55.

That`s it for 2007, which only leaves me to wish all my viewers/friends ( whether in reality or cyberspace ) a very Happy New Year. Hope 2008 brings lots of whatever it is you`re into.

Sunday 30th December 2007

Patchy Cloud, Light S/SE
Gave Cortonwood a miss this morning, in favour of Manvers Lake. Just hope i did`nt miss anything at the former, cos there was`nt much at Manvers, with the best being : 5 Great Crested Grebe & 11 Goosander.


Goosander ( redhead ) - painted

Spent the rest of the day at home, with a couple of decent species recorded from the garden : 2 Goosander W, c60 Lapwing E, 4 sightings of Sparrowhawk ( hard to say if it was more than 1 bird involved, but all 4 sightings were of birds over, heading E ). The best bird of the day however was of a Great Spotted Woodpecker that landed in the tree at the bottom of the garden, albeit briefly as it was getting some hassle from the Starlings. Managed 1 digiscoped shot but it was poor due to the lack of light and taking the shot through double glazing, hence the paint enhancement ;

Saturday 29th December 2007

Sunny, ( Showery pm ), Blustery SW
Went to Old Moor this morning, plenty of stuff about but i just could`nt be arsed to do any counts.
However, i could be bothered with Cortonwood early afternoon. Not a lot about though in the cold wind. Highlights ;
Pochard 6, Tufted Duck 15, Goosander 5, Lesser Black-backed Gull 1 harassing the Black Headed`s on the lake. The only passerines of note were 4 Bullfinch.



Starting to get fed up again now. Hope the next 2 months fly by. Hark at me, wishing my life away.

Friday 28th December 2007

Cloudy, Showery, Breezy SW
A/The Tawny Owl was heard calling again at the Wombwell Garden this morning. The best of the usual stuff were : Great Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Treecreeper & Jay. Also there were a couple of Lesser Celandine`s in full flower. These seem to get earlier year after year ;



Did`nt visit Cortonwood till late afternoon, which was a wise move indeed. A Tawny Owl, calling from the southern side of the pit top was a patch tick, taking my site list to 97. Not much else about in the gloom, with 5 Pochard & 15 Tufted Duck, being the best of the rest.

Think i`ll see what the Old Moor has to offer tomorrow. Not been for a couple of weeks, so it should make a change.

Thursday 27th December 2007

Cloudy, Showery, Blustery SW
Not a great deal today, with only Cortonwood visited. Highlights ;
Pochard 4
Tufted Duck 10
Lesser Black-backed Gull 2 adults on lake
Meadow Pipit 4

Wednesday 26th December 2007

Cloudy, Light W/SW
Todays Highlights ;
CORTONWOOD : Pochard 3 ( 2 drk ), Tufted Duck 6, Grey Partridge 10, Goosander 7 E, Bullfinch 2, Jay 2, also quite a few large Gulls over, moving E ;



WENTWORTH ESTATE : Nuthatch 1, Great Spotted Woodpecker 1, Goosander 5, Tufted Duck 3, Great Crested Grebe 1.

STUBBIN ( Rawmarsh ) : Skylark 6, Meadow Pipit 3, Yellowhammer 5 ;


Looking South prior to dusk


White Dead-Nettle

Tuesday 25th December 2007

Cloudy, Light W/SW
It might be Christmas, but that does`nt mean no birding. Unfortunately santa did`nt drop me off a patch tick at Cortonwood ( maybe he forgot ) today, but there were a few more notables than the previous few visits : 2 Jay, 3 Bullfinch, c150 Golden Plover SE, 8 Goosander ( 6 drk ), 1 Green Woodpecker, c30 Siskin & 4 Lesser Redpoll.


Carrion Crow


Big Metal Bird ( heading somewhere more exotic than
Cortonwood )

And once again, i can`t think of anything to finish off with. So i`ll leave it at that.

Monday 24th December 2007

Cloudy, Rain, Light S/SW



Went to the Wombwell garden this morning. Put some seed down for the birds, to try and keep them coming to my favoured spot. I was only there a short time, but managed to get a calling Tawny Owl. Which reminds me, i must get their nest box ready over the next couple of weeks. More of that as & when.
Then called in at Cortonwood. Not much about there today ( nothing unusual about that then ). Highlights : 2 Yellowhammer, Tree Sparrows ( usual flock of about 20 birds ), 1 Meadow Pipit, 4 Tufted Duck & 5 Bullfinch. Could do with Santa dropping a patch tick off for me, to find tomorrow ( nothing wrong with dreaming, is there ).

Mallards ( painted & digitally manipulated )




The or another male chaffinch put in a brief appearance in the garden again, this afternoon, but nothing else different from the usual.
While i was out this morning, Jakki phoned to say that our youngest, Rudi was`nt feeling very well ( throwing up all morning ). On my return, there she was curled up on the settee, fast asleep. Ahhh bless!!!. Sure she`ll feel better tomorrow ;





And last but not least, i`d like to wish all my visitors ( regular or just passers-by ) a very merry Christmas, and many thanks for, well, visiting my blog throughout the year. THANX

Sunday 23rd December 2007

Frosty, Sunny, Light S/SW
It might have been face/finger numbingly cold this morning, but at least the sky was blue ( first time for god knows how long ). Anyway, with my spirits lifted by the sight of the sun, i opted for a walk to Manvers Lake.
Quite a few birds about for a change, with the highlights being : Green Woodpecker 1, Skylark 1, Grey Partridge 2, Great Crested Grebe 13, Shoveler 1 drk, Wigeon 10 & Goldeneye 4 ( 1 drk ).
Finally managed a few pics with the new lens ( nothing special, i hasten to add ) ;

Great Crested Grebes






Wigeon


Back at home, nothing of real interest from the garden, apart from a male Chaffinch ( believe it or not, but this is a very scarce visitor to my garden ). It did`nt stay around long enough for a pic though.


Woodpigeon ( 1 of 4 )


Starling

Apparently this feel good weather is over ( after only 1 day ), with cloud & rain forecast for the next few days. Oh well !!!!, it was good while it lasted.

Saturday 22nd December 2007

Cloudy, Bright Spells, Light S/SW
Another all round crap day. A visit to Cortonwood this morning did`nt produce anything better than : Cormorant 2 S & Bullfinch 3.

Just a couple of pics from my garden. Nothing you have`nt seen before ;


Collared Dove


Blackbird


Starling

Can it get any worse ? PROBABLY.

Friday 21st December 2007

Misty/Murky, Light S/SE
My 2x tele-photo lens arrived today. Problem was, it was just too F****** dark to test it out ( shortest day my arse, feels like the longest/gloomiest day in the history of man ).
I did attach it to the camera, and i just can`t help feeling i`m still going to have to be on top of the subject to get a decent shot. Hopefully find out tomorrow, if the weather decides to break into something like daylight.
Right, to my sightings of the day. Only the one site, which was the Wentworth Estate, where the highlights were : 4 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Cormorant & a pair of Goosander.

Too peeved off to type anything else, so it`s goodnight from me : (

Thursday 20th December 2007

Misty/Murky, Light SE
Went to the Wombwell garden this morning and put some more seed down. The same species arrived as yesterday, with the addition of 2 Nuthatch. No chance of any pics of them today ( no light ). Also present were Great Spotted Woodpecker & at least 2 Treecreeper.


Blackbird

No sign of the female Wigeon at Cortonwood, but i did have another patch tick. But i can`t count this one, as it was a Muscovy Duck ( an handsome beast, though ) and it looked to have had clipped wings. So, what to do ?, maybe i should start a dumped/feral/escaped list. Why not!! the aforementioned list is currently standing at 1 ;

( artistic license )




The only other notables from here, were : 2 Common Gull, the usual Tree Sparrows, singles of Bullfinch & Jay + 3 feeding flocks of Long-tailed Tit.

Wednesday 19th December 2007

Cloudy, Bright Spells, Light E
When to the Wombwell garden this morning, to prime a tree stump with seed in readiness for my new lens arriving. Want to get the woodland species used to this particular feeding station. Which did`nt take much doing, within minutes of putting the seed down the birds arrived. Mainly Blue, Great & Coal Tits, + Chaffinch & Jay. Managed just a couple of pics, but can`t wait to see what results i get from the 2x telephoto ;


Coal Tit


Grey Squirrel

Then it was off to Cortonwood, where there was only 1 species worth mentioning. Hey, but what a bird to mention, a female WIGEON. My 96th species for the patch. The 100th draws ever closer.


not a Wigeon

Tuesday 18th December 2007

Overcast, Light E
Not as cold as recent days but still just as dull, as was the amount of notables from Cortonwood : 3 Pochard, 5 Bullfinch & a single Reed Bunting.


Oh no!! not another Robin silhouette


Polyanthus ( garden escape ), adding a splash of colour
to an otherwise monochrome day.

Just been in touch with the seller regards the delivery of my 2x telephoto lens. It was posted by registered air-mail last Friday, and will take 6>13 days to reach me. I only wish it was`nt the Christmas period, otherwise i might have got it for this coming weekend. Bahhh!!!! Humbug.

Monday 17th December 2007

Frosty, Murky, Light E
Another dull day & another dull visit to Cortonwood, where the only things to make it to my notebook being : 3 Goosander over, heading E and singles of both Jay & Willow Tit.
Even duller around my garden, with nothing of note ;


Blackbird ( almost in colour )


Starling

According to the weather forecast, it`s going to be Friday before the sun shows its face. MARVELLOUS!! Not : (

Sunday 16th December 2007

Overcast, Light E/SE
Went to Old Moor this morning, but it was a complete waste of time. Very few birds about due to the 3 main bodies of water being almost completely frozen over. The light again, was shocking, hence the colourless pics ;


Blackbird


Great Tit

Back at home, all the usual species were seen around the garden, and the best of the flyovers were 5 Goosander & 7 Herring Gulls ;


Herring Gulls

I keep saying to myself that things/pics will get better when my new lens arrives. Whenever that may be, is anyones guess. I WANT IT NOW !!! Grrrrrr!!

Saturday 15th December 2007

Frosty, Misty, Light SE
Woke up this morning with the intention of going to the Old Moor, but decided against sitting in a wooden shed ( hide ) freezing my bits off, so i went and froze my bits off at Cortonwood. Not much around in the murky conditions, with the best birds being : 1 Jay, c40 Siskin, 74 Black-headed Gull ( including one bird still retaining its brown hood ), 4 Common Gull, 6 Tufted Duck + singles of Bullfinch & Willow Tit.



Decided to spend the rest of the day in the warmth/comfort of home. Plenty of activity around my garden feeding station, but it was the same old regulars : Starlings, Robin, Blackbirds, House Sparrows, Collared Doves & Woodpigeons.
The only notable flyovers were 4 Great Blacked-backed & 2 Herring Gulls heading S.





Might give the Old Moor a whirl tomorrow. If i do, i can guarantee i`ll be making my way home as the day trippers start rolling in.

Friday 14th December 2007

Frosty, Misty, Overcast, Light S
Did`nt do anything till this afternoon, when i had a walk around the Wentworth Estate. Not much to report from here considering the size of the place. Highlights ;
Jackdaw c200, Carrion Crow 1 with white Primaries, Grey Heron 3, Red-legged Partridge 8, Great Crested Grebe 4, Tufted Duck 6, Cormorant 2 SE.
Has you can see from the pic below, the light today was just, abysmal !! ;


Looking N towards Hoober Stand at 14.00hrs

More of the same weather forecast for the weekend, which does`nt bear well for photography.

Thursday 13th December 2007

Frosty, Sunny, Light S
Todays Highlights ;
WOMBWELL GARDEN : singles of Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch + 2 Stock Dove.


Xylaria sp - Longpipes/Dead Mans Fingers

CORTONWOOD : The lake was 99% frozen this morning and the only birds of interest were 3 female Pochard. A walk down the western edge did`nt produce much either, with just a single Willow Tit + 4 Great Black-backed & 2 Herring Gulls over heading E ;





This cold weather has`nt brought any finches/tits into my garden. Still, the same Starlings, Collared Doves, Dunnocks, House Sparrows & a couple of Blackbirds ;



I had a request yesterday from Joanna, asking if i`d do a post on how i take my photo`s. Well, i hate to disappoint, but i just aim, focus and shoot. In fact, the only tips i can give are ;
1 - Get to know your camera & its capabilities. Play around with the different settings etc.
2 - When approaching birds/butterflies. Be patient, sudden movement can spook them into flight.
3 - Try photographing ( insects/flowers ) from a different angle other than just above.

Honestly, i must be the worst person to give advice on photography. I have`nt got a clue, it`s just something that comes naturally. I know i`m way off being the best photographer around, but i can safely say without being big-headed, i`m not the worst.

Wednesday 12th December 2007

Frost, Sunshine & Patchy Cloud, Light S
A very cold visit to Cortonwood this morning, produced a couple of decent species ( by Cortonwood`s standards, that is ). The main highlight came at 10.10 when c150 Pink-footed Geese flew over heading W. Also had my 2nd site Great Spotted Woodpecker of the week, with a bird flying E over Morrisons car park. Other highlights were : Skylark 2 E, Common Gull 3, Pochard 3 ( 1 drk ).

Pinkfeet - 13 of


Black-headed Gulls




Robin


Teasel


Christmas has come early for me this year, or maybe late, if the snail-mail is anything to go by. Just ordered a ( compatible ) 2x telephoto lens for the camera. This will take my 10x optical up to 20x optical ( that was`nt hard to work out, was it ; ). So, hopefully next year i`ll be able to give you something other than B-HG & Robin pics to look at.

Pleeeease stay tuned.

Tuesday 11th December 2007

Frost, Sunny ( patchy cloud pm ), Light S
Todays Highlights ;

WOMBWELL GARDEN : Green Woodpecker 1, Great Spotted Woodpecker 1, Nuthatch 1.
CANAL ( HEMINGFIELD ) : Water Rail 1, Green Woodpecker 1, Bullfinch 2.
CORTONWOOD : Pochard 5 ( 1 drk ), Common Gull 3.


Black-headed Gull

MY GARDEN : Sparrowhawk 1 male ( got a clear shot at it through the scope, but by the time i reached for the camera, it had buggered off : (

Sunday 9th December 2007

Overcast, Light S/SW
A bit more variety in the way of highlights from Cortonwood this morning : 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker on Pit Lane, 1 2nd winter Lesser Black-backed Gull harrassing the Black-headed`s on the lake, 2 drk Goosander, 1 drk Pochard, c20 Tree Sparrow, 2 Reed Bunting, 40+ Blackbirds, + singles of Common Gull, Meadow Pipit, Willow Tit, Bullfinch & Jay.

The weather`s going to finally settle down from tomorrow, hopefully it`ll be light enough to get some pics of sorts.

Saturday 8th December 2007

Overcast, Rain, Light S/SW
Managed to get out for an hour this morning before the rain set in, but it was only to Cortonwood. The main highlight of which, was a feeding flock of c50 Siskin. The only other highlights were : 11 Fieldfare SW, 1 Grey Wagtail, 4 Pochard & c20 House Sparrow.
That`s it for today folks, and tomorrow`s weather`s not looking too promising. We`ll see what happens.

Friday 7th December 2007

Showery, Strong Gusty W/NW
Not a lot about today, i guess the strong winds were keeping most things down. A visit to the Wombwell garden this morning could`nt produce anything better than : Great Spotted Woodpecker, Treecreeper & Light Brown Apple Moth ;





Plenty of Starlings around my garden, but that was it birdwise. Surprised to find one of my Wallflowers flowering at this time of year ;



Just had an evening walk through the Wentworth Estate and only had 1 calling Tawny Owl.
Copyright Dean Stables

Thursday 6th December 2007

Cloudy, Patchy Rain, Light SW
CORTONWOOD : Slightly better sightings than yesterday ;
2 drk Goosander, c20 Tree Sparrow, 1 Willow Tit, 2 Bullfinch & a small mixed flock of Gulls W.
Again, the poor light resulted in mostly silhouetted shots ;




Robin, in full song


Blackbird


Fly Agaric - probably the last of the year

More of the wet stuff forecast for the weekend. Why can`t we have a proper Winter - frost, blue sky, snow. So much better than the dark/miserable days that we`ve experienced over the last few years.
Copyright Dean Stables

Wednesday 5th December 2007

Showery, Blustery SW

CORTONWOOD : another shite visit ;
2 Mute Swan W & 4 Pochard




Parasol

The only thing of interest from my garden were, a group of 7 Cormorant over, heading S.

Hardly worth posting, was it ?

Tuesday 4th December 2007

Cloudy, Light SW

Robin - Wombwell Garden


Cortonwood was as dead as ever, with the only highlights being : 2 drk Goosander & 3 female Pochard.


Tufty


Carrion Crow

The most interesting sightings from my garden were, a flock of c40 Goldfinch S and a pair of Collared Doves nest building.

And last but not least, thanks to my mate Andy, for transporting all the links to the new template.

Copyright Dean Stables

Monday 3rd December 2007

Sunny am, Showery pm, Gusty W
CORTONWOOD ;
9 Goosander, 2 Pochard, 2 Herring Gull E, 1 Cormorant W, + singles of Meadow Pipit & Willow Tit ;


Cormorant

Saturday 1st December 2007

Sunny, Blustery SW
At least 1 Firecrest calling at the Old Moor this morning, but that was it. Nothing to photograph. apart from this Tree Sparrow ;



Met up with John Coldwell of BarnsleyWildlife, this afternoon. He asked if i`d show him the Earthstars at Cortonwood. No problem at all, that`s what us naturalists do, we share our sightings.
Anyway, after that i left John and went for a wander around Cortonwood. Surprisingly no change here, with : 1 drk Goosander, 3 Pochard, 3 Common Gull and singles of Meadow Pipit & Willow Tit.
God!! it`s only been dark for two an half hours, but it seems like a bloody lifetime :(

Copyright Dean Stables