A decent day by December standards at the farm produced fly-overs of two
Ravens, a 1st-calendar-year
Mute Swan (the 100th species recorded this year) and a
Red Kite. A modest but noticeable northeastward push of
Woodpigeons was also evident, with around 450 counted by mid-morning. Having exhausted the supply of berries along Slangs, most of the thrushes were feeding in the crop fields surrounding Canons Farmhouse, with estimates of 250
Redwings and 150
Fieldfares, as well as 11
Song Thrushes. Hither Field retained its seven
Meadow Pipits and eight
redpolls flitted around the edge of the Harholt Plantation. It was encouraging to count 12
Yellowhammers back at the farm, while two
Rooks were associating with the other corvids in Broadfield. The east side of Horse Pasture offered views of a
Little Owl while two of both
Common Buzzard and
Kestrel were seen at the farm. Sixty
Linnets buzzed around but there were only 10
Skylarks. Further sightings at the farm included three ♂
Pheasants, five
Common Gulls, 19
Stock Doves, six
Greenfinches and three
Bullfinches.
|
1cy Mute Swan |
|
Raven |
|
Red Kite |
|
Redwing |
David Campbell