With my work commitments at the moment I am able to finish early enough to get some birding in .I found another area to add to the patch. the habitat looks good with some damp woodland and conifers. Overall it was quiet in this particular area but never the less there were some nice observations.
Once again winter Thrush were plentiful with 140 plus Fieldfare and 135 Redwing , there is a good winter population in these parts it appears. On the Finch front flocks of 21 Linnet and a scattering of Chaffinches with 16 seen on the walk , the odd Bullfinch showed itself .
It was good to see a fine flock of 55 Stock Dove flying over , its the most I have seen in a single flock in these parts. Another flock of 33 Skylark was over a stubble field , it appears that they do winter in good numbers around here. I was just not seeing the roving flocks when I first went out.
3 Buzzards were soaring over woodland and a Kestrel was hovering over a field and was seen to take a large earth worm .
Only 2 Yellowhammer were about ,very surprising as they are in good numbers elsewhere on the patch. 2 jays called as they dipped over a hedgerow and then my attention was captured by the call of the first Raven I have seen here .
The last bird of note was the sadly declining Mistle Thrush which was in amongst a small flock of Fieldfare, perhaps it was from the north as well and is just wintering here.
So after work on Tuesday I decided to venture into the murk and see what I could muster up ,it felt birdy as I had already heard and seen two different Tawny Owls as I left for work in the wee small hours.
The pasture opposite the cottage held a good sized mixed flock of Fieldfare and Redwings. The final totals for the walk were 205+and 60 +respectively . There seemed to have been a bit of an influx of Thrush generally with 7 Song Thrush and 29 +Blackbird ,the latter included some continental looking birds .
The dry stone walls and hedges held 37 plus Yellowhammer and the first Reed Bunting that I have seen on the patch ,a rather shy female which tried to stay hidden in rough vegetation.
on the finch front a flock of 25 + Linnet passed over and as usual Bullfinch showed well with 5 been seen today, there seems to be a good number around here. There small numbers of Greenfinch ,Chaffinch and Goldfinch also but no big flocks. .
I went to the field that had held the large flock of Skylark the other day and sure enough a flock of 55 was above the pasture, it appears that there is good number wintering locally. They have always been a cause celeb for me given their decline
I then found another track which I followed ,the habitat again is outstanding and I really cannot wait for the spring and summer , this area held 4 Greater Spotted Woodpecker two of which were drumming (spring is coming ), 3 Green Woodpecker shot between the trees and the area held good numbers of common birds. A jay was heard but not seen .I used only see them in the Autumn back in Tirley.
Turning back towards the cottage a flock of 31 Meadow Pipit passed over and another was seen in rough ground later. 3 Pied Wagtails called as they flew over .
Birds of prey today were a female Kestrel and 5 Buzzards in and around the general area.
With the cottage in sight a Nutatch called .
As I made my way through an area of rough ground where I was hoping to see a Woodcock , no luck today my attention was alerted by a sound that I thought would be a Squirrel as I turned a fantastic Barn Owl emerged from a hole in an old tree ,it flew within 10 feet from me ,it looked at me and then made its way into the mist disappearing down a wooded glade, truly magical , sometimes mother nature delivers the most fantastic sights. Just incredible !
As I neared home a single Stock Dove passed , and a Snipe was heard .
A great walk for a dreary day and this area is so underwatched goodnesss what will turn up
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