I felt pretty rough today so I stayed closer to home and paid a visit to Highstead. It was a beautifully sunny day with a light north westerly wind but it was chilly in the wind. We had been forecast snow but in the end we did not get any.
There were the usual suspects around the old stable area and once again there were a huge number of Starling, Fieldfare and also Redwing around the orchard area. They were very flighty but there was a Common Buzzard and a Sparrowhawk around causing havoc each time they flew through. I had an obliging Fieldfare pose for me, in almost the same bush as last time, allowing me to get a reasonably close view.
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| Fieldfare |
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| Fieldfare |
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| Fieldfare |
There were 30-40 Lapwing in a far field and at least 1000 Wood Pigeon regularly went up at the back at the appearance of a raptor. I walked as far as the former gravel pit but it was very quiet. The flooded area in the field was still there but empty of birds. Hopefully, if there is a bit more rain, it may get some visitors.
I walked on down to Marshside but apart from large numbers of Fieldfare, Starling and Redwing, the walk was pretty quiet. I got a good view of a male Chaffinch.
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| Male Chaffinch |
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| Male Chaffinch |
Marshside was also very quiet. There was still no sign or sound of a Cetti's Warbler. I hope they are still around. Moorhens were in most of the dykes and I liked the reflections of them and the reeds in the water.
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| Moorhen and reflections |
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| Moorhen and reflections |
A Vinca was peeping out from a hedgerow while some flowers had impressive heads in the roadside garden. I think that they are some form of Hellebore.
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| Vinca |
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| Hellebore |
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| Hellebore |
I did not manage a new bird for the year today but I was pleased to have had a little time out.
Birds seen this visit include: Robin, Blackbird, Collared Dove, Goldfinch, Dunnock, c35 Lapwing, Stock Dove, c1500 Fieldfare, Chaffinch, c200 Redwing, c 1000 Starling, 1 Greenfinch, 3 Common Buzzard, 2 Sparrowhawk 1 male and 1 female, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Rook, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, c1000 Wood Pigeon, 15 Moorhen, 2 Mallard,
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