Astonbury Wood Bird Survey: Autumn 2002

I have now been visiting Astonbury Wood for over a year recording all birds seen or heard in order to make comparisons with Richard Gazzard’s earlier study (Astonbury Wood Newsletter No. 9, March 1999) and to make specific notes of any birds using glades within the wood and any species using Long Meadow. My visits were at roughly fortnightly intervals, depending on weather and other commitments and were mostly made early in the morning as that is when the birds are most active. On each visit I kept a log of all species recorded. At each of nine recording points (7 in the woods and 2 in Long Meadow) I also counted all species seen or heard in a 5-minute recording period. Each visit lasted between 2-3 hours, usually depending on the time I had available, i.e. should I really be in work by now!

The bird survey got under way on the last Sunday of October 2001, the weekend the clocks went back. The following seasonal account of birds recorded in Astonbury Wood begins in December 2001. Some of my earlier observations have already appeared in ‘The Bluebell’ but are repeated here for completeness.

Winter: December 2001 – February 2002
By early December all the leaves have gone from the deciduous trees making it easier to observe mixed flocks of tits and finches that rove through the tree tops and other species that fly over the wood. Blue Tits and Great Tits were recorded throughout the woodland, although more numerous in the deciduous trees, while Coal Tits and Goldcrests were more likely to be found in the stands of coniferous trees. Nuthatches and Treecreepers were occasionally associated with these flocks, but not as frequently as I had expected. Winter thrushes, Redwing and Fieldfare, were largely absent from the wood, there being few berry bearing trees and shrubs, but were occasionally recorded flying over. Small flocks, often accompanied by Blackbirds and Song Thrushes were sometimes found in the hawthorn bushes bordering Stevenage Brook and Long Meadow, but disappointingly were never recorded feeding in the meadow itself. Up to three Woodcock wintered to the south-east of the main pond; their cryptic plumage is such that they were only seen when flushed as I moved between recording points. A feature of this season is the movement of gulls following the line of Stevenage Brook. All five common species of gull, Greater Black-back, Herring, Lesser Black-back, Common and Black-headed were noted although the latter was by far the most numerous.

Spring: March 2002 – May 2002
This is an exciting season for the bird-watcher. Resident birds begin to take up territories and advertise their presence with song, a few winter visitors are still hanging around and the summer migrants begin to arrive, slowly at first and the as conditions become more favourable, in large numbers. By early March the snowdrops and primroses were in flower and some trees were beginning to come into leaf. Despite early morning frosts all the common resident species were in song, Great Spotted Woodpeckers were drumming and Green Woodpeckers yodelling. A Chiff-chaff, calling at the southern end of the wood on 19 March 2002 was the first summer migrant. By the end of March both Blue Tit and Jackdaw had been seen carrying nesting material into tree hollows. By mid-April the number of singing Chiff-chaffs had risen to six, which were joined by several warbling Blackcaps and the occasional Swallow overhead. A pair of Canada Geese took up residence on the main pond, raising hopes that they might breed, but nothing seemed to come of it. By mid-May the floor of the wood was a sea of bluebells and most of the trees were in full leaf making it quite dark under the canopy and restricting the lines of sight. Most records would now be heard rather than seen. I only heard one Cuckoo, on 11 May 2002. I had hoped the wintering Woodcock might stay and breed but I had no sightings after 7 February 2002 and no roding birds were noted on my one evening visit in May.

Summer: June 2002 – August 2002
As the birds’ breeding season advances, the song that filled the wood, particularly at first light, is replaced by the many, varied and much more difficult to identify, squawks, cheeps and ticks of young birds demanding to be fed. The young of eight species (Moorhen, Robin, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Goldcrest and Jackdaw) were observed while a further 16 species probably bred in the wood. Moorhen nested on each of the ponds, one pair on each I think, hatching at least twelve young. At the end of June, a family of Goldcrests, the young fledged and out of the nest were seen at the north end of the wood. By mid-July much of the breeding season is over and the wood is a much quieter place as the adult birds become shy and retiring while they moult their old and worn feathers and replace them with new. At this time, some visits produced very few observations. During August some of the summer visitors begin to depart and the last Swifts were seen.

Most of my survey work takes place early in the morning, with only a couple of evening visits and so is not conducted at the best time of day to record butterflies. However, I have seen ten species: Large Skipper, Large White, Small White, Green-veined White, Purple Hairstreak, Comma, Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown and Ringlet.

Autumn: September 2002 – November 2002
As the birds finish their moult and the leaves begin to fall from the trees, the birds become easier to see. The autumn fruits are attractive to a wide variety of species. Normally insectivorous species, such as Blackcap and Chiff-chaff build up their body weight by gorging on elder berries, which also seem to be a favourite of Wood Pigeons. The summer migrants continue to leave and flocks of House Martin were recorded over the wood regularly during this period, usually in the company of Swallows. Other species also seem to be on the move; three Grey Wagtails and several Pied Wagtails appeared along Stevenage Brook. The last of the summer migrants was seen in early October. The gales of late October caused much damage, bringing down many trees and branches but on the positive side may have created more hollows for hole-nesting species. The first winter visitors were seen on 2 November 2002 when a mixed flock of Redwing and Fieldfare, plus a few Blackbirds and Song Thrushes was recorded feeding on the heavy haw crop in the bushes alongside Stevenage Brook. This hedgerow also provides a ‘main road’ for foraging flocks of tits including, on most autumn visits, up to 15 Long-tailed Tits accompanied by at least four Blue Tits and four Great Tits and on two occasions by a single Marsh Tit. Sadly, the Woodcock did not return to their wintering area in the east of the wood.

Conclusion
Seven species (Wood Pigeon, Robin, Blue Tit, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow and Chaffinch) have been recorded on every visit while a further four species (Wren and Dunnock, Blackbird and Great Tit) have been seen on all visits bar one. Conversely, six species were only recorded on one visit (Greater Black-backed Gull, Tawny Owl, Cuckoo, Lesser Whitethroat, Siskin and Lesser Redpoll). Wood Pigeon was the most numerous species, closely followed by Jackdaw and Robin.

Most surprising observation was a Harris Hawk first recorded on 22 February 2002 and then again on 19 March 2002. This distinctive North American bird of prey was assumed to have escaped from a falconry. At the same time there were reports of this species from Amwell gravel pits (near Ware, Hertfordshire) and somewhere in Bedfordshire (possibly relating to the same bird?).

The woodland glades with low shrubbery, mostly brambles were better for birds than those lacking ground cover, other than leaf litter, where no birds were recorded. Many of the smaller woodland species, e.g. Blackcap, Wren and Dunnock favoured the areas with dense undergrowth. However, the open areas of the glade do make observations easier as they allow unobstructed views into the tree canopy.

Long Meadow was a disappointment. Observations of birds feeding in the meadow were few and far between. Carrion Crow, Green Woodpecker and Magpie were recorded feeding in the field while two immature Herons were seen standing beside a flooded area (after heavy rain in November 2002). Blackbirds and Robins were occasionally seen at the meadow’s edges. I had hoped to see flocks of starlings and, possibly some winter thrushes feeding in the grassland but none were. This possibly suggests that the soil invertebrate fauna may be impoverished something that might possibly be improved by grazing stock on the meadow?

Kingfishers were only seen along Stevenage Brook on two occasions (10 November 2001 and 22 February 2002). Despite a careful search along Stevenage Brook, where it passes through Long Meadow, I could find no evidence of Kingfishers nesting. Indeed, none have been recorded during the spring and summer months.

In 29 visits to Astonbury Wood I have recorded 63 species of birds (listed below) including 45 of the species seen by Richard Gazzard in his earlier study; the exceptions are Lapwing, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Willow Warbler and Wood Warbler. A couple of species I hoped to record but did not were Hawfinch (apparently not recorded in Astonbury Wood since 1998) and Spotted Flycatcher.

Species List
Cormorant F
Heron
Canada Goose
Mallard
Harris Hawk
Sparrowhawk M
Kestrel P
Pheasant
Moorhen C
Woodcock W
Common Gull F
Black-headed Gull F
Herring Gull F
Lesser Black-backed Gull F
Great Black-backed Gull F
Wood Pigeon P
Stock Dove M
Collared Dove
Little Owl P
Tawny Owl P
Cuckoo S
Swift F
Kingfisher W
Green Woodpecker P
Great Spotted Woodpecker P
Skylark
Grey Wagtail
Pied Wagtail
Meadow Pipit
Swallow SF
House Martin SF
Wren C
Dunnock P
Robin C
Blackbird C
Fieldfare W
Song Thrush P
Redwing W
Mistle Thrush M
Blackcap SP
Lesser Whitethroat SM
Chiff-chaff SP
Goldcrest C
Long-tailed Tit P
Marsh Tit M
Coal Tit P
Blue Tit C
Great Tit C
Nuthatch M
Treecreeper M
Jay P
Magpie P
Jackdaw C
Rook
Carrion Crow P
Starling M
Chaffinch P
Greenfinch M
Goldfinch
Siskin
Lesser Redpoll
Bullfinch
Yellow Hammer

Key:
C = Confirmed Breeding;
F = Flying over only;
M = Might be Breeding
P = Probably Breeding
S = Summer Visitor;
W = Winter Visitor;

Astonbury Wood Bird Survey: Summer 2002

With the school summer holidays upon us, the birds’ breeding season is almost over. The bird song that filled the wood, particularly at first light, has now been replaced by the many, varied and much more difficult to identify, squawks, cheeps and ticks of young birds demanding to be fed.

I have now made 20 visits to Astonbury Wood and have recorded 58 species including 44 of the species seen by Richard Gazzard in his earlier study; the exceptions are Lapwing, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Willow Warbler, Wood Warbler and House Martin. Nine species (Wood Pigeon, Robin, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow and Chaffinch) have been recorded on every visit while a further two species (Wren and Dunnock) have been seen on all visits bar one. Five species (Cuckoo, Swift, Swallow, Blackcap and Lesser Whitethroat), all summer visitors, have been added to the list since I last wrote in the newsletter. Wood Pigeon has become the most numerous species, closely followed by Jackdaw and Chaffinch. Movements of gulls, following the line of Stevenage Brook, cease over the summer months but as autumn progresses their numbers will pick up again. There have been no further sightings of the Harris Hawk although one, probably the same one, was seen over Amwell gravel pits during the summer.

Making fortnightly visits has not been as productive as I had hoped where finding birds’ nests has been concerned. I have only confirmed breeding for three species: Moorhens nested on both small ponds at the north end of the wood while both Blue Tit and Jackdaw were seen visiting tree hollows. However, breeding is suspected for a further 22 species, including Kestrel, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Chaffinch. Recently fledged young of Wren, Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Goldcrest and Carrion Crow have all been seen, strongly suggesting that they nested in the wood. Despite a careful search along Stevenage Brook, where it passes through Long Meadow, I could find no evidence of Kingfishers nesting. Indeed, none have been recorded during the spring and summer months. If anyone has any bird breeding records for the wood, please forward them to me so I can include them in my report.

Long Meadow remains disappointing for birds. I have added only two further records, both of a pair of Carrion Crows, in the meadow. Birds are regularly seen and heard in the hedge alongside the brook and at the woods edge but none seem to feed in the field.

Most of my survey work takes place early in the morning, with only a couple of evening visits so far and so is not conducted at the best time of day to record butterflies. So far I have seen ten species: Large Skipper, Large White, Small White, Green-veined White, Purple Hairstreak, Comma, Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown and Ringlet.

Astonbury Wood Bird Survey: Easter 2002

Since meeting Simon Smith at a Codicote village cricket match late last summer, I have been visiting Astonbury Wood about once a fortnight (depending on the weather and other commitments) to conduct a bird survey. The main aim of the survey was simply to record all birds seen or heard in order to make comparisons with Richard Gazzard’s earlier study (Astonbury Wood Newsletter No. 9, March 1999). Other aims were to make specific notes of any birds using glades within the wood and any species using Long Meadow.

Following a couple of preliminary visits to get my bearings and locate my recording points, I began my survey as the clocks went back on the last Sunday of October 2001. On each visit I kept a log of all species recorded. At each of nine recording points (7 in the woods and 2 in Long Meadow) I also counted all species seen or heard in a 5-minute recording period. I have now made 12-visits and so far have recorded 52 species. Of these, six species (Cormorant and five species of gull) have only been recorded flying over the wood and a further seven species (Sparrowhawk, Stock Dove, Little Owl, Tawny Owl, Marsh Tit, Starling and Yellow Hammer) have only been recorded on one visit. Ten species (Wood Pigeon, Robin, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Jay, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow and Chaffinch) have been recorded on every visit while a further two species (Wren and Dunnock) have been recorded on every visit bar one. The most numerous species so far have been Black-headed Gull, Jackdaw and Chaffinch. Some species have probably been under recorded e.g. large numbers of Wood Pigeons are disturbed when walking through the woods, but relatively few seen during the count periods.

There have been some interesting sightings: at least three Woodcock wintered to the south-east of the large pond; both Tawny Owl and Little Owl have been recorded and owl pellets are regularly found under the tall cypress(?) trees alongside the main track; Kingfishers have been watched fishing along Stevenage brook on a couple of occasions. However, the most surprising sighting has been a Harris Hawk, a distinctive, buzzard-sized North and central American bird of prey that appears all dark except for a large white patch at the base of the tail and white tips to the tail feathers. Closer views show that the thighs, under and upperwing coverts are a rich chestnut. Although no jesses were seen on this bird, it is assumed to have escaped from a falconry.

The weather can have a great effect on the number of birds recorded. Most are recorded on fine, calm days. On windy days, most birds will be found on the sheltered side of the woods. Traffic noise, from the Stevenage - Hertford (A602) road, can be bad at recording points on the south and west side of the woods making it difficult to hear the birds.

The woodland glades with low shrubbery, mostly brambles are better for birds than the clearings lacking ground cover where no birds have been recorded. Long Meadow has been especially disappointing with only three records of birds in the field, a Green Woodpecker possibly feeding at an ant nest, two Carrion Crows and two Magpies also seen on the ground. Birds forage along the hedgerows on either side of the meadow, with Blackbirds, Song Thrushes, Fieldfares and Redwings all seen feeding on haws but few seem to use the field.

In his earlier study, Richard Gazzard recorded seven species which I have not yet seen at the woods, although with the exception of Lapwing these were all summer migrants. With the clocks going forward over the Easter weekend and the days getting longer, signs of spring are much in evidence; Primroses are in flower, most of the trees are in leaf while the resident species’ breeding season is already under way. Robins, Blackbirds and Chaffinches have been singing for a few weeks and Great Spotted Woodpeckers have been heard drumming while Blue Tits and Jackdaws have been prospecting likely looking holes. Chiff-Chaffs, usually the earliest of the summer visitors have already been heard and over the next few weeks will be joined by other warblers. It will be a good time to go down to the woods.

It was cold, very cold : New Year’s Day, 2002

It was cold, very cold. On new year’s eve, temperatures had dropped to -5^oC and overnight had fallen even further. By 05:30 our part of the world was blanketed in a hard, white frost, the rooves of Newtown and the cars parked along the street gleaming in the light of a full moon. Andrew, my eldest son and I, were up and about this early for our, now traditional, ‘New year’s day Big Day Birdwatch’ where we try and see as many species as possible within 10 km of home.

Home is the village of Codicote in north Hertfordshire. The towns of Welwyn Garden City and Stevenage lie within 10 km while Hitchin, Luton, Harpenden, St Albans, Hatfield and Hertford lie to the north, west and south of my home range. Despite this urbanisation, and the proximity of London (only 30 miles to the south), it is a surprisingly rural with some pleasant scenery. Three small rivers, the Lea, Mimram and Beane flow NW - SE across the area separated by low rolling hills, none higher than 200 m. Much of the higher land is given over to arable farming, with wheat and barley being the major crops grown in large fields from which the hedges have been removed. In recent years oil seed rape has become an important crop. In the depths of winter, these fields are largely bare, or with only small shoots of winter-sown grain showing through the soil. The hedges remain in the valleys where there is more pasture for grazing. Some flood meadows remain. A feature of the area are the watercress beds, some still operating commercially, others in disrepair and yet others now local nature reserves. There are numerous small woodlands, although few are natural, with plantations of both deciduous and coniferous trees.

Our planned route was much the same as last year: up early to listen for owls (and anything else) around Rabley Heath and Kimpton while it was still dark, before moving onto Stanborough Lakes, at the southern edge of our home range for first light. From there we would wend our way northwards via Beech Farm, the cress beds in the Mimram valley reaching Hitch Wood at lunch time. The short winter afternoon would be spent trying to fill in any missing gaps.

And so we set out. Covered overnight with newspapers, the car’s windscreen and rear window were frost free (forewarned is forearmed). And it started first time! Wrapped in as many layers as possible and with the heater on full blast, we drove slowly round to Rabley Heath. In the bitterly cold, pre-dawn hours of new year’s day we seemed, not surprisingly, to be the only things up and about. In contrast to last year (windy and very wet) conditions were much better suited to listening for birds but nothing stirred. Too cold, we thought. With a nearly full moon, clear skies and heavy frost, the countryside was lit with an eerie glow but we heard nothing until eventually a Little Owl called at 06:05. Shortly after we made tracks for Kimpton Mill where a Carrion Crow called once, a Moorhen squawked from the cress beds and a Tawny Owl hooted in the distance. Six Mallard were disturbed from the cress beds and flew off up the Mimram valley. En route to Stanborough Lakes, our headlights picked out numerous roadside rabbits, a single Hare and a Tawny Owl perched on a branch overhanging the road.

It was still dark, and still cold, very cold, when we arrived at the lakes on the outskirts of Welwyn Garden City (WGC), so we sat in the car with our hands wrapped around a mug of hot coffee. As the sky gradually lightened, in the clear conditions some 20 minutes earlier than last year, we began to see and hear some birds. Wood Pigeons and Magpies flew from their roosts to nearby fields and a Robin fed quietly at the edge of the car park. The peace was shattered by the loud alarm call of a Blackbird as a weasel rushed at the Robin, which fluttered to a nearby bush. The weasel was not deterred and continued its attack, climbing with agility, its movements so fast it was almost impossible to follow in the half-light. The Robin escaped but only just. Prompted by this excitement we left the comfort of the car. Only a little of Stanborough Lakes remained ice free. Crowded into this small patch of open water were 100+ Canada Geese, a few Mute Swans and several Coots but none of the other, hoped for, waterfowl. Three Black-headed Gulls stood on the ice and an adult Grey Heron flew low over the lake making its harsh, croaking call but few small birds were active yet: a Dunnock hopped along the edge of the footpath, a Wren moved through the reeds bordering the R. Lea and the ‘chack’ call of a Fieldfare was heard as it flew over but nothing else was seen until we got to Stanborough reed bed. Here, Reed Buntings were beginning to leave their roost either singly or in small flocks of up to 12 birds. While watching the buntings, a Green Woodpecker flew across the reed bed and a Great Spotted Woodpecker called from the nearby willow woodland. As it got lighter the birds were becoming more active: a mixed flock of Blue Tits and Great Tits was up and about, a Cormorant and 2 Jackdaws flew over and the raucous call of a Jay was heard. By now we had been out of the car for little over half-an-hour and it was still cold, very cold, so cold that we ached. We decided to head back to the relative warmth of the car, seeing a Common Gull on the ice and two Starlings flying over. Back at the car we had a reviving warm drink, noting a mixed flock of c.20 Siskins and a few Chaffinches feeding in a river side alder, a (presumably feral?) Barnacle Goose among the Canada Geese, a Treecreeper spiralling up the trunks of trees in the car park and a Water Rail delicately picking its way along the river’s edge. It was now 08:30 and we had seen 31 species.

The dearth of ducks on the lakes prompted our first change of plan, we drove through WGC, seeing Collared Dove, to Tewinbury Mill where we hoped the mill pond would be ice-free. It wasn’t, but there was a Dabchick fishing on the river and a Song Thrush feeding on ivy berries. Returning through WGC, we saw Feral Pigeons and Greenfinches feeding on the berries of some ornamental shrubs (where there had been Waxwings in April 2001, but not now).

Our next stop was, Beech Farm on the north side of the disused Hatfield airfield, where we hoped to find some farmland and open country birds. A male Pheasant stalked along a hedgerow and a flock of House Sparrows (38th species at 09:17) flew about the barns. In the reclaimed fields to the south of the farm a flock of 15 Meadow Pipits and Skylarks was put to flight by a marauding male Sparrowhawk while a party of Long-tailed Tits foraged busily along a hedgerow. Small flocks of gulls of all five common species, including Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull and Great Black-backed Gull flew over all heading west. No new species were seen in the rough grassland that borders the disused airfield, but a Yellow Hammer perched in the hedge as we returned to the farm where a Pied Wagtail was on a barn roof. Beech Farm hosts one of the few remaining Tree Sparrow colonies in Hertfordshire. We managed to miss them last new year, but this time, our patience was rewarded when we found one consorting with the House Sparrows.

Before Christmas, I had seen flocks of plovers beside the Sandridge–Wheathampstead road on my way to and from work so that is where we headed next, hoping that the cold snap, it was still cold, very cold, had not forced them to move on. Luck was with us and just outside Sandridge we found a flock of 25 Lapwings and a bit further north a flock of c.50 Golden Plover (50th species at 10:48), a species I had not recorded on previous New Year’s Day big days.

A feature of the Mimram valley is its watercress beds. Only a few are still operating commercially while others are now nature reserves. Water cress requires running water, so even in the coldest conditions (and it was still cold, very cold) they tend to remain ice free and, as such, attractive to birds unable to use frozen wetlands. From Sandridge, we drove north via Wheathampstead, where we saw a party of Rooks, to the Mimram valley and Kimpton Mill where there is both a commercial water cress nursery and some disused beds maintained as an unofficial nature reserve. Here, we flushed up to six Snipe which called as they flew off, circled high before coming back to land at the far end of the cress beds. When Andrew and I went in different directions, I was fortunate to see a flash of blue. Sadly Andrew missed our only Kingfisher of the day (and the only species not seen by both of us), a reversal of the situation a couple of years ago. The cress beds still had one more good bird: a snipe which flushed almost at my feet was noticeably smaller than those seen earlier, did not call, did not rise as high and dropped back to the ground less than 20 m away. When subsequently seen, it was positively identified as a Jack Snipe; the best views I have ever had of this species. A Goldcrest working its way along the hedgerow sent us on our way feeling rather pleased with ourselves.

From Kimpton Mill, we continued northwards slowly heading towards Hitch Wood for the woodland species that had eluded us so far. Regular stops to search likely looking fields added Mistle Thrush, Stock Dove and Red-legged Partridge to our lists.

Hitch Wood, a large mixed woodland, was to be our last stop of the morning. In previous years we had been lucky enough to find Woodcock, but this year the bracken in their favoured clearing was heavily encrusted with ice, it was still cold, very cold, and the ground was rock hard. While searching for the Woodcock, a Nuthatch was heard and then a mewing call caused us to look up, just in time to see two Buzzards (60th species at 12:30) drifting over. When we returned to the UK from PNG in 1991, Buzzards were scarce winter visitors to this area of north Hertfordshire. In the intervening years their numbers have steadily grown and they are now year round residents. Even so, this was the first time we had seen them on new year’s day. Having all but given up hope of finding a Woodcock, we were pleasantly surprised to flush one on the edge of the clearing where the ground, somewhat protected by overhanging trees, was frost free. Coal Tit, in a mixed tit and goldcrest flock, was our last new bird of the day before we headed home for lunch (13:10-13:45).

Full of a delicious home-made tomato soup mopped up with home-made bread rolls (thank you, Jenny), Andrew and I, now accompanied by my younger son, Matthew, and Brian Bond headed out for an afternoon’s birding. It was now a glorious winter’s day, sunny, clear and calm but still cold, very cold. First, we returned to Kimpton Mill as we had forgotten to check the mill pond this morning. Expecting it to be completely frozen over, we were surprised to find some open water and a female Tufted Duck. Two Water Rails were seen feeding on the nearby, ice-free cress beds. We also re-visited the mill pond at Tewinbury Mill but that remained ice bound and no birds were seen.

On the outskirts of Digswell, Andrew spotted a perched Kestrel. As I was driving, I missed it and so had to loop back round the roundabouts to add it to my list. In the minor lanes behind Welwyn a female Bullfinch flew across the road. Following news broadcast on the Hertfordshire Bird Club web page (http://www.hertsbirdclub.org.uk/index.html) our next stop was Waterend where a mixed flock of finches had been reported. We parked near the ford and took a footpath that followed the R. Lea upstream (west). The finch flock proved easy to find, feeding in a set-aside field just north of the river. The flock comprised c.20 Chaffinches, 52+ Linnet and at least 1 (a winter-plumaged male) Brambling. Returning to the car, we disturbed a Redwing (68th species at 15:20) that had been foraging in frost-free leaf-litter beneath a holly bush. This was the only one we recorded all day and assumed the others must have moved on to less cold climes.

With half-an-hours daylight left, we decided to return to Beech Farm in the hope we might see some hunting owls. By this time I think we had used up all our luck so the Redwing was our last new bird of the day. Between 13:45 and 17:05 we had only added six species, but at least we had beaten last year’s total (even if only by one)! As the light faded so the warming effects of the suns rays disappeared and the temperature began to drop again. It was cold, very cold.