Feeding Station

The cold and snow has brought birds flocking to the feeders in the garden. One newcomer was a cock redpoll, which fed on sunflower hearts alongside the regular half dozen goldfinches and couple of greenfinches. At one point I counted fourteen blue tits around the feeders, with some coal and great tits in attendance.

Collaborative hunting?

I was taking the dog through a local over-grown meadow. There are rough grasses and patches of brambles and thickets of hawthorn. The dog scented a fox and ran into the undergrowth, shortly afterwards a large dog fox ran across my path not five metres away, then almost immediately afterwards, there was a screaming bird. A blackbird was being pursued by not one but two sparrowhawks, a female closely followed by a male. They went past me at high speed just ten meters away. The blackbird safely reached a thicket and the hawks flew over the top.
I have never previously seen anything like this and wonder whether there was an element of cooperation or whether simply the two birds went for the same prey.

Early Morning Walk

Heading out early the other day, my first significant sighting was of a covey of around twenty red legged partridge. Soon afterwards I saw two crows pursuing a bird of prey at high speed , all of them quite low to the ground. My binoculars revealed a goshawk which evaded its pursuers once it entered the cover of the woods. Later some skylarks were breaking into short bursts of song.

Magical Hour

I have lived at this location for two and half years and know that it is blessed with a fairly plentiful and varied wildlife. Yesterday soon after rising, I experienced an hour like no other I have known at this location. Looking out of the back window at the feeders, the following birds were seen: Blue tit; great tit; coal tit; long tailed tit; robin; dunnock; blackbird; song thrush; redwing; greater spotted woodpecker (2). A kestrel then landed on a tree at the bottom of a neighbouring garden. Looking out of the front window, I saw a green woodpecker checking under the tiles on the roof just a meter from me. In the field beyond sat four redlegged partridge and a brace of pheasants. In addition, the usual squadrons of gulls flew over east to west, whilst crows and jackdaws headed for their feeding fields. A short burst of skylark song could be heard as a few individual birds remain on the wintry fields.
A vole scurried amongst the plants, plundering the fallen offerings from the feeders.

Red Kites

Driving along our motorways over the last few days, I have seen numerous red kites, particularly over the M40. Walking in the black Mountains near Hay Bluff it was great to see three of these birds 'playing' on the uplift along the edge of the bluff. Seeing birds in a totally natural environment is for me, far better than seeing them over a motorway. Having said that, I do understand that they were once a common sight in the middle of London.

Ross on Wye

As evening drew close, rooks cawed overhead. Nothing remarkable about that, but then I saw them settling in a stand of trees with nests amongst the upper branches. Again, no surprise there except that this rookery was in the middle of a roundabout on the A40.

Goshawk

Walking along a ride through a local wood with the rain dripping onto my neck from the trees, I was pleasantly surprised to see a kestrel disturbed from a tree. The bird flew along the ride ahead of me and then out of sight as the path wound through the wood. Coming round a bend, I thought I might see it again, and there ahead of me, perched in a tree was a bird of prey. It instantly took to the air giving me just sufficient time to identify it as a female goshawk.
Skylarks are still breaking into short bursts of song, whilst the redwing numbers are growing with each day. So the sound of summer is sometimes intermingled with the sights of winter.

Redwings

A flock of several hundred redwing flew over the house this morning heading westwards. A small group landed on neighbouring apple trees to feed on some of the fruit remaining on the branches.
A lone ring necked parakeet was sitting on a neighbouring tree but failed to to be tempted to use the feeders in the garden.
I have placed a model eagle owl at the bottom of my garden to deter sparrow hawks. Two tawny owls were flying around it yesterday at dusk.

Seasalter

Several hundred brent geese were on the waters edge with the tide out. Their calls created a wild atmosphere to this busy estuary. A number of oyster catchers were in close proximity to the geese whilst further inshore were redshanks. A flock of sanderlings seemed to spend much of their time in the air. Other shoreline birds included turnstones, starlings, and rock pipits. Numerous small flocks of finches were also apparent. Some could be identified as chaffinches but others were difficult to identify.

Parakeets

A flock of around twenty ring necked parakeet were flying above the downs this evening. They often flock prior to flying off to their communal roosting site. This is the first time I have witnessed this activity in this area, I wonder how long before they will be in the garden using the feeders.
Two warring green woodpeckers were chasing back and forwards across the garden this morning. Long tailed tits were the latest addition to the list of birds using the feeders.

Dungeness

Had a good day on Tuesday at Dungeness seeing over 37 species. The two best being a red necked grebe and a curlew sandpiper.
Also, had a female sparrow hawk dive across the track just ahead of the car.
It was a cold wet day and so most of the smaller finches were hidden away, but it was still possible to hear cettis warblers singing.

Winter Migrants

Saw a flock of thrushes overhead today. Almost certainly fieldfares which makes them my first sighting of winter migrants for this year.
This comes at a time when, following recent storms, the weather has turned very mild, such that the local skylarks have been bursting into song for brief periods.
Vast flocks of pigeons remain feeding on the recently sown wheat fields, which also have the linnets in residence along with some chaffinches, starlings and members of the crow family.
Yesterday primroses were in bloom at Ightam Mote!

Bird Feeder

Just put up my feeders for the winter: Within the first day I observed four different tits (blue, great, coal, and willow); five goldfinches; a female blackcap and a greater spotted woodpecker. See pictures below.

There is still a flock of linnets (around fifty) on the stubble fields and were joined today by a flock of around twenty pied wagtails. The farmer has planted wheat today and so there has been an influx of pigeons (wood and feral); crows, jackdaws and gulls. There have also been a few skylarks on the field over last few days (the first for some weeks).

Near Sheffield Park yesterday, saw a large flock of meadow pipits on a cattle pasture.

Barn Owl?

My observations have been limited recently by a bout of flu, but, the other evening, I ventured down the garden at about 9pm to get some fresh air into my lungs. Standing and looking, an owl suddenly swept up the garden flying past just five meters from me. Turning its head towards me as it passed I am convinced that what I saw in the half light was the rounded features of a barn owl. Never having seen any hint of the presence of one in the local area in the two years we have been here, it would be an astonishing but very welcome development. I shall be going out at twilight to look for it.

There are still large numbers of linnets around and I spotted a flock of around thirty goldfinches feeding on thistles. A covey of grey partridges could be recently released birds or  maybe some wild birds passing through.

Following a few days with mists at morning and evening and heavy still afternoons, some fresher weather has now reached us.

Turkey 2

Went to a different golf course today. It was lined with fir trees and the consequence of that was that it has caucasian squirrels. There actually were feed stations provided for them. Also saw a hoopoe which is one bird I really hoped to see here. Also  a flock of about forty yellow wagtails, many of which appeared to be immature birds.
Back at the hotel a bulbul was in the grounds outside my room, which could readily be identified as a white spectacled bulbul.

Turkey

Lots of the birdlife can be seen and heard around the golf courses. With plenty of fresh water lakes, the black necked grebes with young can commonly be seen and heard. Moorhens and coots are the other main water birds, though two cormorant and a heron flew over today.
Hooded crows are the commonest birds to be seen on the course. There also some as yet, unidentifiable but colorful and loud woodpeckers. Other birds can be heard calling but are difficult to see in the eucalyptus canopy.
Lots of small lizards around but also some much larger geckos with their colourful flapping 'wings'. A tortoise was also seen by others/

Passing Migrants

Weather permitting, the skies hereabouts have been full of the local swallows. (I haven't seen a swift for some time, so they must have departed). But there have also been swallows that have apparently been flying directly over, usually in an eastwards direction. These birds I am sure are from more northern regions and are already on their way to Africa.
A chiffchaff was singing the other day, (the first to be heard for some weeks); again it is very likely that it was a bird on migration.
Large groups of tits are now flitting about our hedgerows. One party of long tailed tits must have amounted to more than twenty individuals.

Playful Kestrels

Watched two juvenile kestrels over the stubble fields. A parent kept a watching brief whilst these two youngsters tested out their flying skills.
Although I am hesitant to anthropomorphize, there seemed little doubt but that these birds were playing. One after the other, they would swoop down upon each other trying to catch them unawares. Of course, at the last moment, the lower bird would glide out of reach. It was mock hunting and display flying all in one spectacular display.

Vibrant Linnet Population

The flock of linnets feeding in the fields of field beans has expanded to around two hundred individuals. Clearly, despite the weed killer used on these fields, there is plenty of weed seed available for these birds. It also signifies that this has been a very successful breeding season for these birds many of which appear to be juveniles.

A mixed flock of tits and warblers (probably chiffchaff) was flitting about the hedgerow alongside the path that runs between the two bean fields, some of the young warblers landed within a meter of where I was standing.

Daubenton's Bats

At the lake at dusk, watched numerous Daubenton's Bats flying low over the water. They were completley oblivious of my presence and flying very close to my face at times. It was clear that they were taking flies off the surface of the water which meant that they were competing with the torut which were still rising.

Norfolk Rhapsody

On a walk today with Dylan, counted fifteen hares, eight in just one field. One individual came out of a hedge not ten yards away and ambled down the track in front of us totally unaware of our presence until it scented Dylan who fortunatley was on the lead. On the same walk, we disturbed a covey of about ten grey partridge.
The lake has a family of tufted duck, moorhen and two dabchick. To date, I have caught four trout on fly. Now hooked on fly fishing!
Photos to follow.

Norfolk

Arrived this evening and going for a walk around the area, a hare came out out from a side lane onto the road I was walking along. It was about twenty yeards from me, but upon seeing me immediately turned and ran back from whence it came. Returning to the house, a barn owl swooped across the driveway in front of me.
Have just come indoors from observing a shooting star!

Birds Still Breeding

There is plenty of evidence around that many birds are still in the throes of the breeding season. Just today I have seen a hen house sparrow carrying food into the roof crevice of a neighbouring house, whilst a cock blackbird was similarly taking food to a nest. Five fledgling greenfinches have been feeding in the garden over the last few days.
The flock of linnets across the field has swollen from about thirty individuals to over fifty. They appear to be feeding on the weed seeds amongst the field beans which will soon be harvested. A kestrel was perched on the wires amongst them today, it flew off at my approach appearing to be carrying a large worm.

A miserable morning enlightenend

A dank morning, wearing my rubber boots for the first time in months. Then as I headed up towards the downs, a pair of goldfinches rose from the sow thistle edging the field bean crop. That was good enough but then a flock of around thirty linnets came out of the hedge and whirled around, determined not to leave the area. A mistle thrush broke into song, followed soon afterwards by a yellow hammer and of a sudden, the world seemed much brighter.

Pembrokeshire Coastal Path

With glorious weather, the birds were out in force along the coastal path. I have never seen so many linnets in one day and every few hundred yards you could also guarrantee to see a stonechat. But the real prize was to see small flocks of chough. Their plaintive calls btought them immediately to my attention but their playful flight was what really caught the eye. In a single day it was possible to see every member of the crow family excepting the hooded crow. Jay, magpie, jackdaw, rook and carrion crow all made an appearance, but none of these could outshine the choughs.

Wedge Wood Butterflies

With the sun shining onto the woodland ride, the blossoming briar patch was a great attraction for butterflies. Numerous Gatekeepers flew around the place but then I spotted a couple of  Commas and then there suddenly appeared first one, then two White Admirals.
The Gatekeepers proved to be very territorial, chasing away the other two species. I wished I had with me a film camera to record at slow speed, the incredible aerobatics of these winged insects.

Greater Spotted Woodpecker Incident

Sitting in the lounge I watched, through the mirror, as a greater spotted woodpecker landed on the wall in the front garden. I looked away for a moment and then heard a great crash into the window almost behind me. The bird had flown straight into the glass. It fell to the ground behind a rosemary bush. It was clearly conscious and so I left it where it was to recover. It was half an hour later when I went out again to check on it that it emerged from the shrubbery and flew away, apparently unharmed.

Pied Wagtails Nest

A pair of pied wagtails built a very exposed nest in one of my wood stores at the side of the house. They abandoned this nest but it soon became clear that they were still interested. The continued presence of the birds made me investigate further and discovered a nest in a pile of logs against the house wall.

Now the birds are coming to the nest every few minutes with their beaks crammed full of insects:

The roof of my car has become a favourite stop-over:

The wood pile where the wagtails have hidden their nest.

Harrassed Buzzard

It is not unusual to see a buzzard beng persued by crows. In most instances, a shift of the tail and the buzzard easily leaves the crows behind. The other day I observed two crows chasing a buzzard which then released a small mammal from its talons. In an instant, one of the crows swooped down and caught the prey in its beak well before it hit the ground.

I was left pondering why the bizzard should have so easily given in to the piratical crows.

Badger Cub Rescue

Down in Ryarsh Wood this morning with Dylan (the dog). He was suddenly very interested in a patch of brambles. Thinking it was probably a pheasant either a cock hiding or a hen on a nest, I went to investigate and was surprised to see a badger. Clearly a young cub, no larger than a cat, it was not pleased to be disturbed, snarling at the dog in an uncompromising manner.

I removed Dylan from the immediate vicinity and tied him to a tree. Then with a stout stick I tried to see whether or not the cub was enatngled in the brambles, or even caught in a snare. Neither seemed to be the case but it was unwilling to move. Without protective gloves or anything, a rescue at that time was not possible. I went home and called Folly Wildlife Rescue and several hours later, they were were able to send someone out.

The cub was still there but now immobile and covered in flies. At first sight I thought it was dead. However it had emerged from the brambles and so it was a relatively easy matter to catch it up in a net and place it in a cat crate. It soon became clear

that the cub was far from being dead and was not happy to be restrained in this manner. Its fighting attitude bodes well for it and I trust it will be released to the wild once it is healthy and independent.

Visitor

Found this little feller in the kitchen this morning! Nearly one inch long!

Two Tiny Predators

Driving along today near Beachey Head when a weasel ran across in front of me. It was carrying what was probably a dead mouse or vole, although it could have been one of its young which it was transferring to a new nest.  What was amazing was the speed that the weasel could achieve when it was carrying such a large burden relative to its own size and weight.
This evening, a little owl landed on the roof garden of the tree house in the garden.

Raven at Wedge Wood

Was at Wedge Wood today. Three of the nest boxes have chicks being fed: two great tit and one blue tit. A buzzard flew over calling, followed shortly after by a raven. The wood is twenty miiles from the coast  and, although raven numbers are apparently quickly expanding, it was a surprise to have one in this area especially during the breeding season.

First Swift

On yet another cold and windy day, saw my first swift yesterday. There can be few flying insects around and so am not sure how these ariel hunters are managing to survive.

A pair of pied wagtails are building a nest in my wood store. It is not unusual for them to select such sites, but this one is particularly open and vulnerable to attack from magpies,  It is a surprisingly large nest for a relatively small bird. Building appears to take place mostly in the early morning and for the rest of the day they are busy feeding. It will also cause serious issues for me and I shall not be able to use the side entrance as I customarily do.

Plenty of Breeding Birds

Every stretch of hedgerow locally has a pair of whitethroats in residence. Every copse has a pair of blackcaps. Swallows are swooping across Fields that have several paris of skylarks nesting. A small flock of yellow hammers was a surprise as most are now occupying their breeding territories. A pair of pied wagtails have taken up residence in my wood shed, whilst bluetits are feeding young in a nest box outside the kitchen window. Goldfinches, greenfinches and linnets are all nesting.

Feral Pheasants

There appears to be far more pheasants this year that avoided the guns over the winter. I have discovered three broken eggs in different locations. Crows, magpies, and foxes are the most likely culprits. It will be interesting in coming weeks to see how many poults manage to escape and repopulate the area. It is interesting to see how many hens are still roaming the fields, usually in groups of two or three with a cock in tow. Clearly some birds have yet to nest, perhaps they are awaiting, like the rest of us, the warmer weather.

Linnets

There is a small colony of linnets beginning to nest at the foot of the downs. They only make their presence obvious in the morning. I was there yesterday watching a beutiful cock bird at about ten metres when something caught my eye. It was a hen just a few feet from me. A brief examination of the briar patch revealed a beautiful nest.
There are meadow pipits in the wheat fields amongst the skylarks.

Invaders

Two second sightings in one day suggest that we may have new species becoming permanent fixtures in the area. I am referring to red kites and ring necked parakeets. The second is an alien species, whilst trhe kites have been delibverately reintroduced. My preference undoubtedly is for the kites.

First Swallow

Saw my first swallow of the year today at Wrotham Heath. Also heard and glimpsed a nightingale at Leybourne Lakes. It was not singing its full song but was undoubtedly the notes of a nightingale. There were also whitethroats present, the first seen this year.
Yesterday a red kite hung over the field in front of the house. Riding the up-currents it flew backwards and forwards giving superb vews of this distinctive bird. The first viewing of this species from the house.

Nesting Goldfinches

I have dunnocks, blackbirds, robins, blue tits and wrens nesting in or around the garden, but this morning saw a hen goldfinch collecting white fluff from old japanese anemones to be used for nest lining. This is about a month earlier than I would expect.
Blackcaps have suddenly appeared in some numbers and the bushes at the base of the North Downs have a cock singing every fifty yards or so.
A pair of red-legged partridge seem to have set up home in the fields opposite the house. I look forward to seeing whether they breed.
Saw a nuthatch and a tree creeper within two minutes of each other today at Wrotham Heath.

Mystery Holes at Wedge Wood

I was at Wedge Wood to take down the tent. It had been in  situ for about a year but as it was leaking, I wished to repair it and then build a wooden camping platform before returning it. Upon lifting the groundsheet, I found numerous little holes in the ground. My first thought was that mice or voles had been responsible, but there were no tunnels and none of the holes were lined with grass.
I then saw a hole at the very edge of the tent base and this one still had its occupant, a toad. I reckon that something like forty toads had hibernated beneath my tent; for some reason, only one of them had failed to emerge from its winter shelter. The photographs show some of the holes and the toad.

Feuding Finches

I witnessed several greenfinches and some goldfinches in the garden yesterday morning. There were several cock greenfinches and I was surprised to see them in such close proximity so close to the breeding season. Inevitably, it led to some chasing amongst the cocks. Then one greenfinch cock chased away a goldfinch. No great surprise there but then the reverse occurred. I would not have expected a much smaller goldfinch be aggressive towards a cock greenfinch.

Parakeets

Although I have seen an occasional ring neck parakeet flying over the village, it is only recently that I have reason to believe they may have colonised the area. I saw an individual bird the other day, but it flew off over the North Downs, so I thought little more about it. Today two birds were mobbing a kestrel suggesting they were protecting a nesting site.

Sowing

The farmers both behind and in  front of the house have been sowing their fields over the last few days. These fields have been left as stubble over the winter and have attracted a large variety of birds. The disturbance caused by the sowing has led to an invasion by crows, jackdaws, black headed and herring gulls. These birds have appeared in large numbers, (two hundred plus). The gulls are normally flying over these fields each day enroute to richer pickings, and, although there have been a few members of the crow family around throughout the winter, I am left wondering where all these extra birds have appeared from.

Butterflies

Become so warm over the last few days that I have seen three different butterfly species. I would have expected to see a brimstone, but tortoise shells are a bit of a surprise.
It never ceases to amaze me to find birds retuirning yuear after yesar to the same areas to breed. Swifts, swallow, and martins obviously do so, but this morning so a group of linnets in exactly the same hedgrow they bred in last year.

First Migrant

Not surprised that the first spring migrant of this year, heard this morning, was a chiffchaff. The weather has turned very mild so that we have bats flying up and down the lane in the evenings. Blue tits are building in the nest box just outside the kitchen window. Heard yellow hammer singing and the chaffinches are singing away. The flock of chaffinches is still around but I have now been able to determine that they are mainly females. The males are establishing their territories and presumably their mates wil accompany them soon.

Nest Building

A blackbird and a wren were busy this morning carrying nesting material into the garden hedge.
A large flock (approximately 100 birds) of chaffinches were feeding on the maize field. As the local chaffinches are singing and staking their territories, I wonder if these birds are winter migrants that will soon be heading northwards. Still plenty of fieldfares around.

Frog Spawn

With the daffodils beginning to break in the garden, I have been keeping a close watch on the pond to see if any frog spawn had appeared. Sadly, although I have seen a frog in there, no spawn. Then, this morning, I saw a newt in the pond for the first time this year. Probably the frogs are not spawning there because of the presence of newts. I then looked in the fish pond, which is relatively new and, as far as I know, free of newts, and there were two small clusters of spawn!

Madiera Lizards

Walking through the park by the Presidential Palace I was surprised to see lizards swarming over a flowering shrub. Upon further investigation it became clear that they were feeding from the flowers. I always assumed that lizards were insectivores and so the sight of them partaking of nectar was a surprise.
Later I hand fed some lizards on the low park walls with bits from the desiccated remains of a fallen stone fruit. The lizards were very keen to grab these offering and retreat to their lairs within holes in the wall.

Raucous Blackcaps on Madiera

I could not understand to begin with why the blackcaps outside my hotel balcony were making such a racket. It turned out that the bottlebrush shrub that they liked to hide in had been infiltrated by some wild canaries. The blackcaps were defending their territory whilst the canaries were partaking of the nectar from the many blooms on the shrub,

Stoat

A stoat flew cross the lane just ahead of us this morning. It went at such lightening speed that, after it had gone, you were left wondering if you should believe your eyes.
It reminded me of a poem I wrote a little while ago and which can also be found at: http://daveupoems.blogspot.com

Encounter with a Stoat

One day whilst scrambling over boulder strewn bank

I came upon one bolder than I.

A small creature with glinting eye

Revealing the truth of its aristocratic rank.

I tried to follow through rock and scree,

An elusive spirit that watches me.

A relentless chase ensued;

My stealth against the vigour of one pursued.

I sit to watch this dry wall highwayman

Who cheats the wire of man

Emerging from his lair

To feast on the rabbit in its snare.

He shrinks not from me

But condescends to still that life

For a brief moment of indignation;

No enfeeblement of trepidation.

Even man, the great molester,

Cannot match his constricting stare.

Rabbits may run from the gun,

For him, seizure is their life’s sum.

Red Kite

Travelling back from Croydon the other day on a cold and dank afternoon, saw a red kite flying over the barren fields at Botley Hill. I wonder how much longer before they will be inhabiting the fields by my home, less than twenty miles away.
Magpies are carrying sticks to a nest two gardens away.

Winter Migrants

The sun came out today and for the first time for some time, there was some warmth,
A large flock of fieldfares was feeding on the stubble in the upper fields, a few redwings amongst them. On the lower fields were a large flock of redwings.
A vociferous song thrush chorus this evening.

Skylarks - Larking About!

The skylarks on the lower fields were very active yesterday. A couple of cocks were singing away in full voice, the first time I have seen them flying so high this year. Others were chasing each other, clearly male birds chasing hens. After a minute or so of chasing, the hen would suddenly drop to the ground and the male would hover over her at about six feet from the ground.
All this was happening on a cold dank day.

What Causes Birds to Start Singing?

It was a murky morning today but I heard several species singing: Skylark, hedge accentor, greenfinch, chaffinch, song thrush, robin. Plus a drumming woodpecker. The only difference that might have sparked this irruption of song has been a slight rise in the temperature. Obviously the days are also getting longer, but that would not exp;lain the sudden burst of birdsong today compared with previous days.

Singing Chaffinch

Although the weather has turned milder, night time temperatures are still low and there was a frost this morning. Nevertheless, the cold did not deter a cock chaffinch from singing from a high hedge top position. True, it was not the full song but as I usually reckon this to be the true harbinger of spring, it was a very welcome contribution.

Nest Box Exploring

Although we have had for over a week now hard frosts at night and the daytime temperature hardly raising above freezing, there are clear signs of birds preparing for spring. On each of these cold days I have witnessed both blue and great tits investigating the nest boxes in the garden. Robins seemed to have paired off, so that two birds can often be seen in close proximity without any sign of friction between them.
So, although any breeding may be over a month away, the birds seem to be gearing themselves up for the coming spring. Still, even given the cold, few birds have been using the feeders in the garden, though blackbirds have been very keen to consume the half apples I have put out for them.

Thames Estuary

Today walked along the busy Promenade at Gravesend. The tide was low and so the mud flats were exposed. The first bird I spotted was a feeding avocet. This was followed by several redshanks and in the distance what appeared to be bar-tailed godwits. I saw a single turnstone and a pair of unidentified ducks. These latter were on the waterline and were small brown ducks. Walking around the marina, which was mud capped with ice, a kingfisher emerged from a tunnel and flew within inches of Daphne and Dylan (the dog).

I was surprised to see the abundance of bird life carrying on their normal behaviours so close to the many people who were taking advantage of the afternoon sun.

Birds Galore

The snow had receded significantly this morning. In fact, it has largely disappeared from the bottom fields, whilst it remains at a few inches depth on the Downs and by the house,
Sun shining but bitterly cold; not expecting to see much.

I don't ususally list the birds I| see but given the variety seen or heard this morning, I thought I would make an exception:
Jackdaw, Rook, Crow (a hundred plus on stubble and maize (pheasant cover).
Pheasant.
Robin, Dunnock.
Greenfich, Chaffinch, Bullfinch
Blue Tit, Great Tit.
Magpie.
Skylark
Goldcrest
Buzzard
Sparrowhawk
Wood pigeon, Collared Dove.
Blackbird, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush.

All this in a one hour stroll across fields and through woods.
Strangely, no winter migrants (Fieldfares, Redwings) which I see most other days.

Badger in Snow

The first fall of snow since we moved here. Went for a morning walk to see what tracks were around. Not surprised to see plenty of evidence of rabbits, but did not expect to see badger tracks leading from one of the local setts. Unusual, in my experience, to see them emerging on such a cold night.

New Year's Day

A drumming greater spotted woodpecker was an unexpected surprise on this dank and dreary day. It was not the full-throttled drumming you would expect come the spring, but was clearly a territorial sound display and not a bird excavating rotten wood. I would not expect to hear this sound for another month or two in normal circumstances.
In the field above the church, a female sparrow hawk was quartering low to the ground. I presume it was hoping to set up one of the skylarks that are still about. Or maybe, it was looking to spook the partridges that are still round. The only thing I saw it disturb was a fieldfare and it studiously ignored this bird, so for some reason did not consider it suitable prey.
I then watched a male blackbird chasing redwings from its chosen feeding spot. I was surprised to see this and have not really noticed it happening before. The bird was spending so much time chasing away the thrushes that it hardly had time to feed itself.