A flock of about 30 redwings feeding in the vicinity of Alder Pond in Big Meadow this morning.
Tag: Big Meadow
Stoat
On Wednesday 28th October, 13.15. A stoat ran across the Pads footpath from Big Meadow to the Orchard just North of the South entrance to the Orchard. I distinctly saw its black tipped tail.
Thrush and shellduck
Seeing a song thrush in Big Meadow this afternoon reminded me that on Tuesday morning we saw a song thrush in Carr House Meadow and a shell duck on West Field water
Birds in Big Meadow
The Wednesday Work Group watched a kestrel hunting over Big Meadow but the highlight was the frequent sighting, over the course of all the morning, of a curlew busy amongst the soft rush.
Birds this morning
A heron took off from Alder Pond as we passed this morning and a sparrowhawk was on patrol over Big meadow during the morning.
Video of Barn Owl
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Barn owl out hunting over the meadow this morning at 8am
Michael
Wildlife from the Wednesday Work Group
Swallows were swooping over the Wednesday Work Group as we worked to clear algae from the Alder Pond in Big Meadow. We were careful not to go near the moorhen’s nest and found this newt.
As we were packing up, a mother mallard emerged from the marsh with her chicks, we think eight, and led them on to the water, clearly appreciating our clearance.
A Spring of Teal
I walked along the path from the Fairfield Orchard to the Cromwell Road gate this afternoon at about 2:45 pm. The weather was cold but sunny.
There was one song thrush in the Big Meadow not far beyond the map board. I watched it for about 5 minutes and it did not move much.
Continuing to the School Pond I spotted teal. In the end I counted 5 pairs; so a total of 10.
They were spread around the edges of the pond initially but went into the water eventually. However they stayed visible on the water and did feel the need to retreat to the reeds on the far side of the pond.
There was also one moorhen around the School Pond.
According to the Internet, the collective noun for a group of teal is “a spring”. Hence the title of this post.
Wednesday Work Group sightings
Whilst the Wednesday Work Group were working in Big Meadow this morning we observed two buzzards being ‘bombed’ by a group of noisy seagulls.
On the way back I observed an interesting bird very busy adjacent to the larger Fauna path boardwalks. From its dark head and white chin I summised it to be a nuthatch but I’m by no means certain of this. Any thoughts from our birders?
Sightings
Two pairs of goosander on the School Pond this lunchtime.
Yesterday another sighting of a hare in Big Meadow and long tailed tit in the Orchard