It was a pleasant, near-calm day that produced some reasonable birding. Highlights included singles of
Reed Bunting and
Cormorant over the farm and two
Stonechats in Hither Field, where a
Grey Heron flew over. A brief listening session at the farm in the evening produced six
Little Owls, a
Tawny Owl and a
Barn Owl. Also of some note were three
Rooks, four
Common Buzzards and a scattering of around 40
Skylarks at the farm (plus two more over the Woods, where the species is uncommon) and around 470
Starlings, many of which were moving west in small flocks and surely of continental origin. Winter thrushes remain relatively thin on the ground, with 33
Fieldfares and two
Redwings at the farm, and around 20 more of the latter feeding in the Woods. Three
Meadow Pipits, two
Pied Wagtails and 50
Linnets were at the farm, Lunch Wood had a
Bullfinch and two more were heard around The Scrub.
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| Common Buzzard, Lunch Wood |
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| ♂ Great Spotted Woodpecker, Legal & General |
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| Kestrel, Infront George |
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| Little Owl |
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| Pied Wagtail |
David Campbell (photos), Paul Goodman and Ian Jones
