Monday 28 March 2011

Hawfinch, Sizergh Castle, Cumbria, March 28th 2011

I got up early and arrived at Sizergh for 0630am. Fortunately the gate was open so I drove to where I wanted to park. I baited the area with seed, on the gravel, around the car and under the hornbeams.
First bird to arrive was a Jay, which was joined by goldfinch, chaffinch, bullfinch, great tits, blue tits, robin and then finally a nuthatch.
Eventually at 0732am, a pair of Hawfinch dropped out of nowhere and landed about 25ft away. Fantastic. Rattled a few images off, then watched them come and go for about 15 minutes.
At 0750am, Rob Pocklington turned up, and I gestured that 3 were about (by this time they were on the grass or up in the trees).
Other birders started to turn up, and by 0800am i'd made my exit.
Never been as close to these wonderful birds, and today for a change, it hadn't rained.
There was probably about 7 birds around, and the most I had in the baited area at one time was 3, (2 males and 1 female).