What have you seen

Spotted a huge flock of Canada Geese feeding by a flooded field near the site yesterday, perhaps 200+ and today a large flock of Fieldfares and Redwings.

Came across this recording, which should appeal to all those interested in birds. The Dawn Chorus by John Spillage

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=obkPZGgIVFU

Spring still on the horizon but our local Greater Spotted Woodpecker has started drumming. Only heard the one, we usually have a competing male

A few more winter flowers in our garden which attract insects although beware the winter Heliotrope it's a plant thug... (though has a lovely scent) 

Out this morning with Flyte and a fully grown female Roe deer crossed the path in front of us. She walked up a bank and then started to grass, and as we walked past she just looked up and watched us pass no more than 30 m away. She was still there when we returned 10 mins later, not at all bother by others walking on the path.

Look North Yorkshire featured Robert Fuller releasing two rescued stoats last night. He is a fabulous artist, as well as wildlife saviour. Link here to his interesting website which has lots more information, videos and his online shop.

https://www.robertefuller.com/diary/tag/stoats/

Whilst out this morning in the car I saw a male Hen Harrier flying over some fields made my day, a lot of snow about this morning but where the Hen Harrier was there was no snow at all  and only 12 miles from home.

What have I seen?, a cheeky Squirrel sat on a bird feeder(tray type) chomping his way thru the mornings offerings the saucy beggar😂. I had 5 feeding stations, but noticed the Goldfinches being made unwelcome by the tits & sparrows now the Squirrel spooking all the birds. So I’ve increased it to 10, the wire uprights x2(peanuts), the wire uprights within wire round cage x2 (fat balls), wire uprights wide mesh x2 (fat balls) free standing 1’ suspended hanging trays x2 mixed feed, long clear plastic tubes with open feeding slots x2 (1 sunflower hearts & 1 mixed feed). It seems to be harmonious thus far. I’m loathe to discourage the Squirrel but if he/she creates continuing issues I’ll enter the ‘make it hard for the Squirrel to feed’ battle on at least 8 of the feeders & isolate them from the others so no jumping over to the other feeders games-we’ll see👍🏻

Well it has been a few years but today whilst out saw a small flock of Redwings in a field about 20  altogether, quite a few Buzzards and Kestrels about.

Paid a visit to Burton Mere RSPB reserve.

Didn't see anything unusual, apart from a couple of Cetti Warblers but we were royally entertained whilst eating our sandwiches in the main reception/Hide by a young lady of 2½ who was also there with her Grandad. She had her own set of binoculars and a never ending supply of questions for an unfortunate reserve assistant who engaged her in a chat.

"Which one is the mummy duck?" " Where are the baby ducks?" "Why has that duck got a funny bill? (Shoveller)" "Do you feed the birds every day?" "See how I can use my binoculars" etc, etc, etc. Chatty Kathy.

Assistant relieved whenGrandad came back from making a cuppa and getting little ones orange juice.

Lovely to see one so young being so inquisitive.

Every winter we still see our sole Fieldfare visitor, he's been around this week in the cold, eating the old apples we store for the birds.