Birding - 18/12/09

Some bramblings joined the greedy tree sparrows at our feeders this morning. Other irregular visitors today included a couple of yellowhammers (which only come into the village in the snow). I used a Panasonic Lumix DMC-F27 with a dirty window filter to capture this image.

Woke up to another sub-zero day. The garden had a nice flock of ten brambling, some feeding in the rowan (which still has berries) and others using the feeder. Headed out to bird the Torekov area for a few hours. En route had the first of many redwing (45) at Västra Karup, twelve starling at Glimminge and three fantastic red kite at Slättaröd - the latter rather thin on the ground at the moment. Stopped in the shelter belt on the road that leads to Dagshög in the middle of a massive flock of thrushes feeding on berries. At least 550 fieldfare, 125 redwing and one mistle thrush. Also parrot crossbill and brambling heard here.

Finally got to Påarps Mal, and had a quick look for the water pipit. No sign of any pipits here, just 20 more redwing and a single adult shag. The nearby sewage works had more pipits (meadow and rock) but again no sign of a water. A goosander (female) and single teal floated about. The shoreline had a single starling poking about and the calls of several male pheasants spurred a grey partridge into 'song'.

It had to be the rev before lunch and there was a bit happening here. The highlight was a single redhead smew - a site tick - which eventually flew south with a purpose. Other duck offshore included velvet scoter (4), long-tailed duck (1), goldeneye (65) and eider (45). Working the shoreline produced at least five redshank and three dunlin, but no sign of any purple sandpipers. The woods produced a few fieldfare and another 26 redwing. The golf course had two majestic mistle thrushes bouncing about. Driving home had to stop again near some fruiting trees at Lugnet; eight starlings and 12 redwing. Still no waxwing; will they come?

Mmmm! Nice! I guess this is the work of a goshawk. Found down the lane where I have flushed one a couple of time this autumn/winter. Whatever did it, accessed the brain from the back, hacking straight through the skull. Brutal.