Two song thrushes amongst a gang of blackbirds in the Orchard on Tuesday 28th January
Month: January 2019
Dan Heywood’s Bird Walk Jan 26th
16+ people joined Dan for a 2 hour walk around. A pair of bull finches were busy stripping buds at Edenbreck , over a hundred linnets swooped around us, dropping down to feed in the arable, Pink Foot flew over and finally snipe whipped past as Dan flushed them from around Cromwell’s Pond. In all 32 species were seen or heard.
Linnets rising up from the oak tree.
Pink Foot overflying in their typical loose formation
Full List : Seen
Redwing, Mistle Thrush, Blackbird, House Sparrow, Stock Dove, Wood Pigeon, Pink-footed Goose, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Bullfinch, Linnet, Dunnock, Herring Gull, Rook, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Snipe, Reed Bunting, Robin, Coal Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Starling, Black-headed Gull, Wren, Moorhen, Grey Heron, Sparrow Hawk
Heard
Skylark, Greenfinch, Long-tailed Tit
When out with the Wednesday Volunteers
After a cold and misty start a bright sunny morning presented a wide collection of small birds through the orchard today. The stars of the show were pairs of Reed Buntings and Bullfinches along with a solitary Nuthatch. Great Tits, Blue Tits, Hedge Sparrows and Goldfinches were also about in good numbers
Video of Barn Owl
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Barn owl out hunting over the meadow this morning at 8am
Michael
Deer, Linnets and a Barn Owl
Recent sightings from Michael:
05/01: This morning at 10am I saw 3 small deer emerge from the trees near the corner of the Fauna path. They wandered along that Sowerholme field (I think that’s what it’s called!) then jumped over the fence/hedge into Flora Field. They then wandered up to Pony Wood for a bit then returned back to where they came from. Later (about 4pm) one of them was out again in that Sowerholme field (again, not sure what it’s called!)
I also saw a load of linnets in flora field yesterday (Friday) afternoon.
12/01: just seen a barn owl flying around Pony Wood (8am)
Thanks Michael!
Yet another poor count
This morning’s tally of snipe was a measly 15 (including 1 jack). 14 flushed in Big Meadow, one in Hay Meadow. This season is running well behind. The total for the winter so far is standing at 73. In all but one of the previous years we have been over the 200 mark at this point.
Better news was the sighting of two woodcock in Upper Sowerholme by one of the team whilst the others were distracted by a roe deer. There were also five teal on School Pond.
Volunteer Saturday 12th January 2019
Here is Jonathan’s message
Greetings All,
And a very Happy New Year to you. I trust this finds you in the very
rudest of spirits.
There’ll be a volunteer session at Fairfield Orchard, Fauna and Flora this
Saturday, January 12th, starting at 10.00am and finishing at 1.00pm or
thereabouts.
On the agenda for this occasion:
* Clear fallen leaves from around the shed.
* Tidy the strip between the apple trees and the Pads footpath hedge.
* In the Old Damson Copse, cut away and dig out bramble and clear around
each of our new saplings.
* Cut off suckers through the Orchard.
* Trim back the hedge between the Pads footpath and Big Meadow to the
south of the Orchard to Lucy Brook.
* Trim the hedge between the Long Pads footpath and Flora Field / Lower
Sowerholme.
And that’s about it for now, I think.
Best wishes,
Jonathan.
Waxwing
A Waxwing spent all January 3rd moving between corner of Leighton Drive / Willow Lane and the hedgerow along the path to the rear of Willow Lane. The ornamental tree it was feeding on has been stripped so bird has probably moved on.
Sights and sounds
I saw a fox crossing the West Field this morning and then heard a very noisy woodpecker in Pony Wood. This afternoon a flock of 40ish linnets were having a mini murmeratio along the Long Pads footpath.
Waxwing
Local resident reports a sighting of waxwing in the Reserve end of Willow lane yesterday.