Two New Birds for the Year

Black Swan Cygnus atratus

Wednesday 22 January 

Rain was promised today, 85% chance, and set to stay with us for a week. But, come 8.30 following an overnight shower, it was dry albeit dull and cloudy but still. So off to Southampton Old Cemetery with friend Richard Osman to see if the Hawfinch was still about.

Blue and Great Tits as we walked to the right of the chapel and taking a clockwise circuit also found a pair of Nuthatches.  Just the one Carrion Crow but half-dozen Magpies continually on the move.  Eventually, a few Woodpigeons and Richard found a trio of Greenfinches whilst I made contact with a single Chaffinch and a couple of Herring Gulls passing overhead.  But still no Hawfinch.

Then a final walk around and down pat the chapel to meet a small family group who had one a single Hawfinch.  Distant and at the top of the tallest bare tree to the right so only possible to get  record photograph in the dull light.  

Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes

Then, as I looked up to the top of the tall tree in front of me the outline of what looked like a possible Green Woodpecker so able, again, to get a record shot of the distant bird but which, upon checking the photograph and giving it a little more light, proved to be a Great Spotted Woodpecker so Richard still awaits that magic moment when he finds his first Green woodpecker!

Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopus major

Thirty-five minutes later we were on our way home so that we could stop near Bitterne Triangle to check the bank of the River Itchen to see f here were any Black Swans to be seen following the seven seen by Richard last Saturday.  A singe Carrion Crow on the grass and then, looking to the left of the large flock of Feral Pigeons feeding on the bank, presumably from bread thrown by visiting children and/or adults, four Black Swans slowly moving our way.  Beyond the Black another five Mute Swans plus a trio of Mallards paddling down river and a handful of Black-headed plus a couple of immature Herring Gulls.

Mute Swan Cygnus olor

Meanwhile, the Black Swans continued on past us to the bridge before returning to leave the  water immediately in front of us.  It would appear that at least two of the adults had paired up and were very busy interacting with each other.  Only necessary to remain on site for ten minutes before the fist spots of ran arrived so back to the car and the rain, if you could call it that, ceased.  Home, showered and shaved, etc by 11. 30 and still no rain and a brighter sky. What could be better?

Interacting Black Swans Cygnus atratus

Birds seen:

Mute Swan, Black Swan, Mallard, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Rock Dove, Woodpigeon, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Nuthatch, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Greenfinch Hawfinch.

Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus

Immature Herring Gull Larus argentatus

Black Swan Cygnus atratus

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