Another very quiet period I’m afraid. Even the winter thrushes have not arrived to enliven the scene with only small flocks of Redwing so far whilst Fieldfares are virtually non-existent. I’ve never known another winter period like this.
On the brighter side a cover crop of radish in one of the
large fields down Potter Lane is proving very attractive to Linnets with up to
270 birds in there. This is by far the largest count in the parish for many
years and must be attracting birds in from a much wider radius than just the
village. However, having followed a few people on Twitter, whilst winter cover
crops are very much a positive thing the planting of crops can have unintended
consequences. So, for example, radish is good for birds like Linnets that perch
up on the plants but really poor for ‘walking’ birds like pipits because of the
density of cover.
A walk down the river yesterday proved productive with good
views (but no photo) of a huge female Peregrine sending the local Woodpigeon
flocks into panic mode. Also along here, despite the high water levels, a Green
Sandpiper (only my second sighting this year), Redshank and four Snipe.
On a sadder wader note I found this dead Golden Plover in
the top fields last night...
It was under a telegraph wire so I assume it was an unfortunate collision having only thought about bird flu after I got back home (probably just as well I was wearing gloves).
The weather has not been conducive to a lunchtime walk
recently but one sunny spell allowed me to have my lunch sitting in the village
churchyard. I wasn’t the only one…
