I haven’t been to Highstead for a long time so I thought I would give it a go this morning and see if there was any chance of being able to see the water, going on the fact that the vegetation would have died down, being winter. I did look in the summer but at that point I could not see the water at all, everything was too grown up. The wind was south westerly today and some sunshine was a definite bonus.
It looks as if the apple orchard is being extended as they have cleared all of the rough ground. There are going to be some very disappointed birds as it was superb habitat there. A tractor was still working at the bottom of the area, while at the top 33 Black-headed Gulls were picking around in the newly cleared ground.
There were a huge number of Fieldfare, easily 1000, on and near the apple orchard, together with at least 500 Starling. The sound of the birds calling was incredible. A mass of Starling together are certainly pretty noisy. I could also see at least 60 Redwing as well. They were all making the most of all the fallen apples, and presumably the ones left on the trees. They were so loud that I could hear them as I walked up the road.
There were the usual little jobs around the stable area and I could hear a Green Woodpecker calling.
I could see some Fieldfare in the trees ahead as I started up the bridleway. I half expected them to all take off as soon as they saw me but luckily I was able to gradually work my way closer. As one of the birds came into land it showed its white underwing showed well.
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| Fieldfares |
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| Fieldfare coming in to land |
I kept tucked close to the hedge and worked my way slowly closer. There was a lot of swapping back and fore with the birds, as some flew to the orchard, and some flew from it to settle in the trees. One of the birds was showing its grey rump well and another allowed a view of its undertail covets.
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| Fieldfares |
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| Fieldfares |
I continued to work my way closer, keeping well tucked in to the hedge. By doing this I was treated to some lovely close views. They are very handsome birds. Some were very heavily streaked with very orange breasts while others were less heavily streaked and much paler breasts.
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| Fieldfare |
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| Fieldfare |
I carried on down the track, surrounded by sound from the Starlings and Fieldfares. I reckon any count that I make will be an underestimate. It sounded like thousands of birds in there. There were 44 Lapwing feeding at the back of one of the fields. At one point a Common Buzzard flew through and put them all up.
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| Lapwings in flight |
I headed on towards the old gravel pit. There was a Common Buzzard perched in the far trees, perhaps the same one that flew over. It was disappointing to find that it was impossible to see the water. The banks are too high and too much vegetation has grown up in the bits that I might have been able to see. It seems such a shame. It used to be a really good spot to watch but since they reverted it back to farmland it is just no longer visible. There were a few sheep feeding on the banks. I am not sure what breed they are. A Common Buzzard flew over and may have been the same one I saw perched.
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| Sheep |
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| Sheep |
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| Common Buzzard |
There was a little bit of a puddle in one of the fields, in the same place it used to collect and where I used to sometimes see waders, but nothing was on it today and it was very small. If we suddenly get some sustained rain it would be worth checking out again.
I headed on down towards Marshside rather hoping to catch up with a Woodcock as I have seen them here before on one occasion. Unfortunately no such luck today. I did however get a new bird for the year as I saw a female Sparrowhawk (75) fly out from the wood. At the bottom of the path there was some Traveller’s Joy and I also took a photo looking back up the ploughed field.
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| Traveller's Joy |
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| Vanishing point |
More Fieldfares were in the bottom trees while there were a few Redwing in the garden by the footpath. Although one of the Redwing was fairly obscured by branches it did enable me to take a shot. They are lovely birds. There was another small flock of Goldfinches.
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| Fieldfares |
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| Redwing |
As I carried on towards Marshside there were a few Long-tailed Tits feeding along the back of the hedge but they remained too obscured to be able to get any usable shots. A Kestrel shot across and a Sparrowhawk put up a large flock of Fieldfare. They had no sooner settled after that when there were birds up everywhere, bunching together in flocks, and clearly panicked. The reason soon became clear as I could see a Peregrine (76) going through the middle of them. It really did cause chaos. I was pleased to see the Peregrine but I did feel sorry for the birds. I could hear a Robin singing from the hedge and I was able to get some nice shots of it. Initially it was quite obscured by branches but I was able to slowly work my way round until I could see it better.
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| Singing Robin |
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| Singing Robin |
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| Singing Robin |
A male Chaffinch gave some nice views, turning first this way then that. It was a real case of which is my best side.
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| Male Chaffinch |
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| Male Chaffinch |
As I walked down the road to Marshside flocks of Starling and Fieldfares shot into the trees with a whirring of wings. There must have been a raptor again. They are amazing, the air is full of multiple calls and then suddenly it goes completely silent as if mute has been pressed. It seems to be as soon as they spot a raptor. By the sheep field there were 6 Moorhens in the dyke and as I walked along the road a Grey Heron flew over at the back. I walked as far as Reynolds Lane and then called it a day. I took a photo, from the dyke just before Reynolds Lane, and as I arrived at the lane a few Rook flew over, one of which passed right overhead.
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| Marshside Dyke |
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| Rook |
It had been a good, even if very painful visit and two new birds for the year was a bonus.
Birds seen this visit include: Black-headed Gull, Carrion Crow, Rook, Jackdaw, 1 Meadow Pipit, 500 Starling, c 1500 Fieldfare, 60 Redwing, House Sparrow, Goldfinch, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, 3 Green Woodpecker, 5 Song Thrush, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Wren, 44 Lapwing, 3 Common Buzzard, Magpie, Jay, Cormorant, Sparrowhawk, Peregrine, 7 Moorhen, 1 Grey Heron
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