Winter at Dundock Wood
Today at Dundock Wood: Flocks of Blue Tit, Great Tit, Chaffinch and Greenfinch. Also: Coal Tit, Robin, Wren, Blackbird, Nuthatch, Treecreeper and Ring-necked Pheasant.
Highlights were, as usual, Goldcrest and small families of Long-tailed Tit. This is a great area to get close to Goldcrests - I always locate them by their call first and then pin point them to a few rhododendron bushes; often near to the bench in the above photograph. I Had the camera with me today so decided I'd try and get a few photos of them - not an easy task as they are so tiny (they weigh less than a ten pence coin)and are never ever still! Today it was made even harder by the untimely arrival of what must have been the (very noisy) Coldstream and District Ramblers Association!! The Goldcrests all departed as the ramblers arrived! Better luck next time!
Heard the drumming of Great Spotted Woodpeckers close-by but didn't manage to locate one this time.
During one visit to Dundock Wood last year, I was stood watching a family of Long-tailed Tits flit from tree to tree when I heard a rustling noise close behind, I turned round to see a
roe deer looking right back at me. Unfortunately he scarpered immediately!
Photos: Dundock Wood, part of the Hirsel Country Park estate in Coldstream. It is a rhododendron and azalea wood and is in full bloom during May and June - a mass of pinks, purples, yellows and reds.
posted by The Bird Woman at 7:43 PM
2 Comments:
Woodpeckers have always amazed me. I see the Golden-backed woodpecker often, and even the Rufous woodpecker, though occasionally. To keep hammering away day in and day out, I mean don't their brains rattle or what? Was nice to read about the birds.
Thanks, Anil. Woodpeckers have special muscles in their skulls which act as shock absorbers - must save a fortune on headache tablets! Golden-backed and Rufous are stunning peckers.You're very lucky - I've never seen either of them! Thanks for your comments.
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