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 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

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 27th DECEMBER 2014

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


Liplje 08:00 - 09:30

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 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 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 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 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 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 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