As I drove out of the village this morning the Rooks around
the church suddenly exploded into the air, the cause was soon apparent - a fine
Peregrine. This was my first of the year and one of only a handful of parish
sightings. It may well have been the same bird seen near Scruton last week.
There was also a marked movement of Redwing today with knots of
50-100 birds almost constantly moving north-west over the village this morning, I
also saw my first Fieldfares of the autumn too.
On the lake a couple of Kingfishers have taken up residence
for the winter but it is always a surprise to see them flying low over the
neighbouring meadow. One today actually veered to fly under a cow’s body!
It reminded me of another anomalous link between cattle and
birds when I stayed with John Holloway on Stronsay some years ago. The shipping
forecast had predicted exceptionally strong winds and we ended up using an old
Ford Escort as a hide overlooking a raging sea and
picking out a great range of seabirds including a Leach’s Petrel right over the
house.
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