Pinchinthorpe and Mount Grace Priory

We had a family day out on Sunday visiting Pinchinthorpe for the branch walkway which cuts through the woodland and has some adjoining pools. We saw and heard several common species such as Robin, Long-tailed, Blue, Great and Coal Tits. Plenty of corvid action too, with Rooks, Carrion Crows, Magpies and a single Jay around. Finches were limited to Chaffinch and Greenfinch though. Several Moorhens and Coots about on the ponds and a few Canada Geese, Mute Swans and Mallards as well. Sizable flocks of Woodpigeons about in the neighbouring fields held no Stock Doves. A great number of Common Frogs, along with a load of frogspawn, could be found in the more sheltered pond margins.

No owls or woodpeckers seen or heard, probably due to the high level of disturbance - the place gets very busy with dogs, horses, bikes and children...

I had better luck at Mount Grace, but not with the usual mammals - I have had encounters with stoats, hares, roe deer and rabbits there in the past - but with a Marsh Tit on the feeding table. A nice surprise! I found a couple of Nuthatches in the trees between the Priory and the pond which had the usual resident hybrid duck, alongside the Mallards and Moorhens. No sign of the otter, despite a good scout about. Two motions capture cameras are currently set up to keep tabs on its comings and goings though.

A few Fieldfares were clicking away in the trees along with the odd Song Thrush and Blackbird for company. No Goldcrest seen this time. Plenty of LT and Blue Tits about and a solitary Pied Wagtail.