Wednesday 31 December 2014

WEDNESDAY 31st DECEMBER 2014

Liplje - Circuit 1

Peregrine came out of nowhere stooping on a feral pigeon and the strike was audible!, there was a small flurry of feathers as the chase continued over the tree tops, wow! Was not hugely bigger than the pigeon so definitely a male and showing uniform brownish creamy underside on both wings and body. Upper body grey with brownish hint unlike the the blue/grey of an adult.
Peregrine is a another first for me in Serbia and Liplje,
Fieldfare also in red, is of note as I see so few here as is Bullfinch which is a real rarity and a treat here in Liplje.
Finches in green were in a single flock feeding near the lookout in stubble and weeds.
Possibly another female Cirl Bunting in the garden and an additional Yellowhammer.


Peregrine Falcon Juv male (probable)
Sparrowhawk
2 Buzzard
Fieldfare over N
2 Great Spotted Woodpecker
Nuthatch
4 Blackbird 2 male & 2 female
2 Bullfinch male & female
16 Goldfinch
Hawfinch
15+ Tree Sparrow
20+ Chaffinch
3 Brambling
2 Yellowhammer 
3 Robin
Wren
6 Collard Dove 
7 Feral Pigeon
6 Pheasant
2 Raven
2 Jay

Front garden feeding station -

5 or 6 Cirl Bunting
2 Yellowhammer
4 Tree Sparrow
3 Chaffinch males
12 Great tit
5 Blue tit
2 Marsh tit
Great Spotted Woodpecker female
Middle Spotted Woodpecker
Nuthatch
Robin
3 Eurasian Jay









Tuesday 30 December 2014

TUESDAY 30th DECEMBER 2014

-5 to -8°C, wind light W/NW, mostly cloudy with bright intervals,pressure 1029hPa and rising

Liplje - garden feeding station at home
New arrivals today included another male Cirl Bunting, 2 Tree Sparrow and the return of the female Brambling which came very close but was to nervous to feed.

Saw a flock of finches in the village today which included Brambling(1), Chaffinch, Greenfinch and Yellowhammer. Must get back there tomorrow to get some counts. 
All I need now is a Sibe.

Black Redstart
Brambling female
5 Cirl Bunting 3 male 2 female
2 Tree Sparrow
Yellowhammer
3 Chaffinch males
G. S. Woodpecker
M. S. Woodpecker
10+ Grey tit
4 Blue tit
2 Marsh tit
Robin
3 Jay

Black Redstart around the woodshed

Monday 29 December 2014


TUESDAY 29th DECEMBER 2014

-6°C and falling, wind 20mph and falling, overcast and bright from 6 in snow, pressure rising 1009 - 1026 hPa

Liplje - in garden feeding station at home feeding on pig fat, budgie food (millet), wheat, corn, sunflower seed and apples. 
No sign of the Great Grey Shrike yesterday.
Bird counts are 1 unless otherwise stated.

2 Great Spotted Woodpecker females
Middle Spotted Woodpecker
Nuthatch
3 Jay
21 Great tit
3 Blue tit
Marsh tit
Robin
4 Cirl Bunting 2 male & 2 female
3 Chaffinch males
Yellowhammer

Saturday 27 December 2014

SATURDAY 27th DECEMBER 2014

Zero to -3°C, wind 8mph W/NW, clear sunny, pressure 1017hPa


Liplje 08:00 - 09:30
















Friday 26 December 2014

FRIDAY 26th DECEMBER 2014


5°C, Wind 11mph N/NW, mostly cloudy and dull, pressure 1019 hPa

Fantastic Great Grey Shrike ! A first for me in Liplje and Serbia. Sitting on power cables and dropping down to hover displaying contrasting black, white and grey plumage. A perfect delight against the drab backdrop of a Balkan December day.
Will return early tomorrow to hopefully get at least a record shot with my Canon. 

Great Grey Shrike  ad
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Middle Spotted Woodpecker
7 Jay
8 Hooded Crow
Raven
2 Marsh tit
12 Great tit
5 Long tailed tit 1 caudatus
3 Nuthatch
Robin
2 Blackbird
3 Greenfinch
4 Goldfinch

THURSDAY 25th DECEMBER 2014

All birds in green seen at our garden feeding station with the Brambling nearby.

Pheasant
2 Buzzard
2 middle Spotted Woodpecker
2 Great Spotted Woodpecker females
Nuthatch
2 Magpie
2 Raven
2 Marsh tit
8 Great tit
2 Blue tit
2 Wren
Robin
2 Blackbird male & female
11 Yellowhammer
2 Cirl Bunting male and female
Brambling female
2 Greenfinch
2 Hawfinch
41 Tree Sparrow single flock
House Sparrow

Wednesday 24 December 2014

WEDNESDAY 24th DECEMBER 2014

0 - 11°C, Wind N 5mph, mostly clear sunny, 1021 hPa

Some of the visitors to our garden feeding station today.








Tuesday 23 December 2014

TUESDAY 23rd DECEMBER 2014


Well Christmas is almost here. Thought I'd post this picture from last year to add a little festive cheer although we've had no snow so far this winter and relatively few frosts.
In fact today it was particularly mild with the temperature reaching 13°C, however the forecast is for snow from Boxing Day afternoon with temperatures plummeting to below freezing on the same night and staying there for another 7 days ! Well they don't always get it right so we shall see.

 

In and around our front garden.....

Brambling female
2 Cirl Bunting male & female
2 Chaffinch males
Goldfinch
6 Great Tit
3 Blue Tit
2 Marsh Tit
Nuthatch 
Middle Spotted Woodpecker
Great Spotted Woodpecker 

....and close by -

Buzzard 

2 Raven
2 Jackdaw
2 Carrion Crow
Hawfinch
Black Woodpecker

The lower pic is of my current feeding station with an improvised seed hopper made from an old plastic mug and a milk bottle. The Great spot is feeding on pig fat mixed with whole grain flour and sultanas.

The nest box was used twice by Great tits this year and hangs from The Walnut (see list top opposite)

Wednesday 17 December 2014

WEDNESDAY 17th DECEMBER 2014

Liplje 10:50 - 12:00

Buzzard
Black Woodpecker
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Middle Spotted Woodpecker
Nuthatch
4 Jay
Hooded Crow
Raven
Black Redstart male & female
Goldcrest
Robin
Wren
10 Great tit
2 Blue tit
2 Marsh tit
Hawfinch male
4 Yellowhammer
Goldfinch
Chaffinch
5 Tree Sparrow
3 House Sparrow

Red Admiral & Scarce Clouded Yellow on the wing yesterday !

3 Roe Deer


Tuesday 16 December 2014

TUESDAY 16th DECEMBER 2014

11°C, Wind light variable, overcast dull light rain, pressure 1014hPa

Paljuvi Lake near Ub 14:10 - 15:00
No sign of the Red-necked Grebe. One Pygmy Cormorant on the water , the others flying over.

Red-throated Diver juv/1st W
4 Great Created Grebe 1 juv
14 Pygmy Cormorant
4 Mallard
Kingfisher
Black-headed Gull 1st W
Buzzard
Sparrowhawk
2 Hooded Crow

Monday 15 December 2014

MONDAY 15th DECEMBER 2014

4-7°C, Wind light, fairly dull with hazy sun, pressure1023 hPa

Paljuvi Lake near Ub 09:40- 12:30
All birds viewed from dam wall. Red - throated Diver in juv/1st winter plumage 
Red-necked Grebe in adult winter plumage. Direct comparison made with near by adult winter Great Crested Grebe. Showing dusky grey face and neck. Neck stockier and bill shorter than Great Crest. Also 'powder puff ' rear end noted. Seen taking food items from water surface

Red-throated Diver
Red-necked Grebe
4 Little Grebe
3 Great Created Grebe 1 juv
1 Pygmy Cormorant
4 Great Cormorant 1juv
Grey Heron
Kingfisher
52 Mallard
21 Eurasian Teal
Pheasant
Magpie
2 Hooded Crow
Black Woodpecker
Robin
Long tailed tit
3 Greenfinch

Tuesday 2 December 2014

TUESDAY 2nd DECEMBER 2014

Liplje - Home 

Middle Spotted Woodpecker
Black Redstart female
6 Great Tit
2 Blue Tit
2 Marsh Tit
4 Long Tailed Tit
2 Nuthatch
Goldcrest
3 Jay
Sparrowhawk
2 Buzzard

Sunday 23 November 2014

SUNDAY 23rd NOVEMBER 2014

Liplje  14:15 - 16:20
The Woodcock flew into the woodland opposite home. Only the second for Liplje and Serbia the other one seen also from home on 31st December last year.
According to the literature mostly a passage bird in Serbia with just a few breeding patches in north and south.

Woodcock
Black Redstart
Serin
2 Brambling male & female
Chaffinch
Hawfinch
Cirl Bunting
Yellowhammer
Tree sparrow
House Sparrow
36 Goldfinch
6 Blackbird
Black Woodpecker
Bluetit
Great tit
Long tailed tit
Marsh tit

Thursday 13 November 2014

TUESDAY 11th NOVEMBER 2014

Liplje
The Fieldfares were perched but there is only a few hawthorn berries for them locally as they don't seem to crop heavily or last here very long.Apples may have interested them but the crop has failed here this year.Certainly ours may have been having a 'year off ' but the appalling wet spring has also had a big impact.

2 Fieldfare
2 Firecrest
Black Redstart
2 Siskin over
8 Long tailed tit
2 Brambling
Chaffinch
51 Yellow Hammer pre-roost flock
Hawfinch
Black Woodpecker


Wednesday 15 October 2014

WEDNESDAY 15th OCTOBER 2014

15-25°C,Wind variable light,clear then with light cloud cover later,pressure at 06:30 - 29.83inHG and falling.

Im fascinated by the  efforts of the migrating Blue Tits. Its such a novelty to me and they seem too delicate and vulnerable for any long journey. I'm intrigued to know how far and to where they travel. And why East ? perhaps its milder in Bulgaria on the shores of the Black Sea ?

Liplje - migration watch from home 06:30 - 08:30

180 Chaffinch  117 over S, 20 over E, 25 over SE, 6 over E/NE, 9 over N
24 Hawfinch 6 over SE, 3+1 over W, 5+1 over E, 4+1 over NE,1 over NW, 2 flew in
10 Greenfinch 9 over E, 1 over SE
8 Siskin 2 over E, 3 over S/SE, 3 over S
10 + Great Tit over SE 
15 Blue Tit over E
28 Blue/Great tit 20 over E/SE, 8 over SE
3 Mistle Thrush 1 over SW, 1+1 over S
5 Song Thrush 2 over SE, 1+1 over N, 1 over NW
Blackbird over NW
2 Starling over W
3 Jackdaw over SE
7 Raven  3 0ver W, 4 over N
2 Wagtail sp. over E
8 Finch sp. over SE

11:20
28 Blue Tit 20 + 8 over E
Wryneck Calling

Sunday 12 October 2014

SATURDAY 11th OCTOBER 2014

Liplje - migration watch from home 06:30 - 08:30

The South bound Chaffinches were in flocks from 1 to 20 birds.Highlighted birds are notable as late migrants or because of there numbers. The Bramblings were the first this Autumn/winter.

Sparrowhawk female
Goshawk male
34 Common Wood pigeon  32 over over W/SW, 1 over SW, 1 over S
Collard Dove
2 Jay
Magpie
Jackdaw
2 Raven
2 Wood Lark over W
3 Barn Swallow over S
18 Great Tit  2+1+1+6+1+4+3 over S
9 Blue Tit over S
8 Long Tailed Tit
2 Nuthatch
Tree Creeper
Chiffchaff calling
9 Song Thrush  3 over NW, 2 over W, 2 over S, 1 over SW, 1 flew in
11 Mistle Thrush  2+2+7 over S
Yellowhammer over S
Cirl Bunting singing from same tree,The Walnut, as earlier this year
382 Chaffinch 370 over S, 6 over SE, 2 over E, 1 over NE, 3 over NW
2 Brambling over S
5 Greenfinch 3 over S, 2 over NW
4 Siskin 1+1 over S ,2 over E
2 Goldfinch 1 over SE ,1 over S
4 Linnet over E
62 Hawfinch 55 over S (9 flocks of 13 or less), 11 over SW, 2 over SE, 1 over NE, 2 over E, 4 over W
2 Tree Sparrow over E
20 finches sp. over E

Friday 10 October 2014

THURSDAY 9th OCTOBER 2014

Liplje - migration watch from home
07:00 - 08:30

Swallow over S
183 Chaffinch 153 over S (in flocks of 1-15), 10+12+3+3 over SW, 2 over N/NE
11 Hawfinch 1+5 over SW, 2+3 over S
8 Goldfinch over SE
3 Greenfinch 2 over N, 1 over E
7 Blue Tit 3+1+3 over S
16 Great Tit 1+1+6+5+3 over S
2 Blackbird over W
4 Song Thrush over SW
2 Wood Lark over S
19 Raven over W (single flock)
22 Wood Pigeon 10+6 over W/SW, 6 over SW
Hobby over N
2 Sparrowhawk (local)



Wednesday 8 October 2014

WEDNESDAY 8th OCTOBER 2014

11-21°C,Wind SE gusting up to 23mph.mostly clear and sunny, pressure 30.20inHG

Liplje - migration watch from home, 07:30 - 08:30
Took me a while to realise the Tits were ''moving'', as like the Hawfinches it was something I'm not familiar with. Realised I had missed some early on.

Swallow over SE
86 Chaffinch 71over S, 5 over E, 10 over SE
8 Hawfinch over S, 3 in from N
Greenfinch over SE
11 Great Tit 2 over SE, 9 over S
14 Blue Tit  10 over S, 4 over SE
Starling over NW
2 Skylark over SW
Song Thrush over S 




SATURDAY 4th - 6th OCTOBER 2014

Liplje - migration watch from home

Got the feeling these Hawfinches were on the move over the weekend hence the more concerted effort on Monday. Really good to see, not having seen anything like it in Blighty, always imagined them to be very sedentary. 99 Hawfinches in 3 days WOW !
Noticed the Cirl bunting change the pitch of its song going from the more typical rattle to a higher pitched trill and then back again.
Great Cormorants were first for Liplje
First Siskin this Autumn.


Saturday 4th
16 Hawfinch 12 + 4 over S

Sunday 5th, 07:10 - 08:00
4 Song Thrush over S
23 Hawfinch 19,1,1 over S, + 2 over NW
4 Chaffinch over S

12:52
15 Hawfinch over E/NE

17:32
Siskin over S

Monday 6th, 06:55 - 08:13
4 Great Cormorant over S
Tree Pipit over E/NE 
45 Hawfinch  9+1+5+9+8+12 over S, 1 over E
10 Song Thrush 1+3 over S, 5 over SE, 1 over SW
Blackbird over E
3 Turdus sp.S/SW
84 Chaffinch 20+13+11+11+6+2+7+4 over S, 6 over S/SW,4 over E
23 Skylark 3 over S, 16 over E/NE, 4+4 over E
10 Wood Pigeon 2 over W, 8 over SW
4 Starling N/NW 
White Wagtail over S
2 Yellow Hammer over SE

Cirl Bunting singing










 



Thursday 2 October 2014

THURSDAY 2nd OCTOBER 2014

12-17°C,Wind up to 5mph from N/NW, cloudy and bright.pressure 30.32inHG

Much quieter on the migration front of late.The Firecrests are back with 3 seen yesterday with 1 Willow Warbler. Also over this last week phylloscs have been much more in evidence.

I saw 3 feeding together which included 1 Chiffchaff, 1 1st W Willow Warbler (which interestingly did a lot of sitting rather than standing on perches) and one other phyllosc type which showed a well defined black eyeline and equally striking pale and long supercillium. When viewed head-on a pale loral stripe was noticed, this together with the strong eye line/super put me in mind of a 'crest'? Also noticed on the same bird was a pale off white underside, greenish grey upper body and yellow/orange feet and possibly legs.

My conclusion was this bird was like no Willow-chaff I've ever seen and came closest to Arctic/Greenish Warbler however no wing bar was observed ?

Hawfinches in groups of 8 and 4 seen in quick succession and the Cirl Bunting has returned to sing in The Walnut.
Small movement of Chaffinches and Blackbirds much more frequently seen.

Over last 7 days - 

3 Firecrest
Willow Warbler 
Chiffchaff
Wood Warbler
Stonechat
Whinchat
12 Hawfinch flocks of 8 & 4 
Cirl Bunting singing

Friday 26 September 2014

WEDNESDAY 24th SEPTEMBER 2014

Liplje _ up to The Ridge and back.

Hobby over NW
10 Tree Pipit 2 over calling, 3  on The Ridge, 5 flew in
3 Swallow over S
Whinchat
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
13  Starling 7 over N/NW, 6 over NW
3 Red backed Shrike female/imm
Heron
Buzzard
Wood Pigeon
2 Magpie
2 Hooded Crow
30 House Sparrow

Butterfly's -

Clouded Yellow
Comma
Hungarian Glider
Red Admiral
Green Veined White
Speckled Wood


Tuesday 23 September 2014

TUESDAY 23rd SEPTEMBER

9-14°C,Wind NW up to 15mph,cloudy dull brighter later,pressure 30.02inHG 

Liplje and Ljig over the last 7 days 

Liplje
The Golden Orioles seem to have left us with no sign for over a week now and I have the feeling that could be the last of the Nightingales also. 
Just singles of the Whitethroats and the odd Wood Warbler hanging out with the tit flocks.
3 or 4 Spot Flys still dotted around Circuit 1 and likewise with the Shrikes.
A few Tree Pipits still very much in evidence feeding in the short meadows or flying over.
2  Whinchats and a new Stonechat up on The Ridge.

This delightful and very obliging Cuckoo has been in our garden feeding for the last couple of days. Was seen to catch a large hairy caterpillar which it proceeded to thwack to death and then repeatedly run it back and forth through its bill until it oozed some bodily fluid before being eaten. Also observed some head scratching so may have have found those long hairs a little irritating ?

Common Whitethroat
Lesser Whitethroat
Wood Warbler
Chiffchaff
Blackcap
Tree Pipit 
Whinchat
Stonechat
Nightingale
Spotted Flycatcher
Red Backed Shrike
Cuckoo 1st-y
4 Wood Lark 
60 Starling over NE
Swallow small parties over S or SE

Ljig -  the river just south of town

Little Egret 
Kingfisher
Grey Heron
2 Common Sandpiper

















Tuesday 9 September 2014

TUESDAY / WEDNESDAY 9th / 10th SEPTEMBER 2014

Wednesday 10th August

60 swallow/martin over SE
74 Swallow over SE
3 Starling over SW
6 Tree Pipit1 over calling, 1 over SW, 1 over W, 2 over N/NE, 1flew in

Tuesday 9th August
15 - 26°C,Wind light variable,cloudy with sunny intervals, pressure 30.04inHG

River Ljig just south of Ljig town & Home

The migrants again when I arrived home this afternoon are just fantastic! The Icterine Warbler was very obliging giving just the best views at close range as were the Wood Warblers which were content to feed out in the open on dead wood or catching flies from our power cables.
The Tree Pipits can be heard flying over almost every time I walk out the door, 2 were in the trees around the garden.

The Herons at Ljig were feeding on a stretch close to town which is now pretty undisturbed due to the collapse of the riverside walk during the big floods, and hence a lack of walkers.The waders were also on this section.

Home - 08.30
3 Tree Pipit over calling
11 Starling over SE

River Ljig 09 .15 - 11.00
Squacco Heron juv/ad.winter
2 Grey Heron
Green Sandpiper
2 Common Sanpiper
2 Tree Pipit 1over calling
2 Spotted Flycatcher
Whinchat
3 Kingfisher
100+ Swallows & Martins moving S
350 House Martins (many juvs) resting on power cables
2 Buzzard
6 Long Taied Tit
2 Grey Wagtail male singing & female
4 White Wagtail
3 Godlfinch 1 imm.

Home 13.30
Lesser Whitethroat
Icterine Warbler
3 Wood Warbler
Blackcap male
4 Tree Pipit 2 over
3 Spotted Flycatcher
Red Backed Shrike
15 Bee-eater over SE
Black Woodpecker

2 Buzzard

Home - 17.30 
10 - 15 Bee-eater over S
Kestrel