One Year on!

Hawthorn berries, Browns Wood.

More rounded tail feathers of an adult Lesser Redpoll.

Adult Lesser Redpoll showing more red on the breast feathers.

Adult male Bullfinch.

I started my blog exactly one year ago. I suppose the Rosefinch was the spark. My aim is to report the species seen at Thornton and perhaps encourage others to report on their local sites. Recent sightings have included a mixed flock of about 20 Siskins , 10 Lesser Redpoll and afew Goldfinch. Two female Goldeneye were brief visitors. The gull roost is also increasing with up to 400 B.H. Gulls and afew Common Gulls. Recently I trapped this fine adult male Bullfinch and also an adult male Lesser Redpoll. Note the more rounded tail feathers of this bird. The Hawthorn berries at Browns Wood are also impressive this year and will hopefully get many birds through the winter.

Signs of Winter.

As the wind direction turned to a cold easterly some winter species made their appearance. On Saturday a Brambling was a welcome addition to the year list. On Sunday a fly over Goosander, 5 Goldeneye and 10 Wigeon all heralded the approaching season. Dispite all this a single Comma and a Red Admiral enjoyed the warm mid day sunshine. A second hand report of a probable Waxwing on the 30th October had me checking all the local berry baring shrubs. Finally, up to 23 Lapwing are roosting on the dam, where I am optimistically hoping for a Snow Bunting!