Lesser Black-backed Gulls and Fieldfare - Broomfield Track 29/03/20

It was a dull and windy afternoon today as I set out for my daily exercise walk and though overall it appeared to be quiet with little sign of anything new it was good to be able to come out. As I made my way up to the top fields I could see a flock of 120 Herring Gulls picking amongst the freshly worked soil and in amongst them were 9 Lesser Black-backed Gulls. They remained distant but I tried for a photo of the nearest.

Lesser Black-backed Gull and Herring Gulls

The walk round remained quiet but every now and then I would pass a small group of Blue and Great Tits busily feeding and at various points a male Chaffinch broke into song from a high perch. On passing the lower paddock the 5 Fieldfare were still present in the field and had been joined by a flock of 25 Starling. One of the Fieldfare was a little closer today so I tried for a photo. It was nice to be able to get a little better photograph of the beautifully well marked individual.

Fieldfare

Fieldfare

 As I headed for home a small flock of 15 Linnet called frequently as they flew up from the field and flew towards the bike track, chattering away as they went.

Redwing and Fieldfare - Broomfield Track 28/03/20

My daily walk today began well when I came across a small flock of 6 Redwing feeding in the paddock. One of the birds was particularly obliging and gave me the opportunity for some of the best views of this beautiful bird I have had this year.

Redwing

Redwing

Redwing

Redwing

Redwing

3 Song Thrush were also feeding in the same area and I could not resist a photo as one came near on its way past. I could hear a Little Owl calling but could not see it and several Blackbirds were also busily searching for food in the same paddock.

Song Thrush

The rest of the walk remained quite quiet with no sign of anything new in. Skylarks were singing away and a single Meadow Pipit called as it moved from the field. I finished the walk with some distant views of 5 Fieldfare in the lower paddock. One individual was particularly beautifully marked.

Fieldfare

Fieldfare

Birds seen this visit included: 4 Chiffchaff, 5 Robin, Blue Tits, Great Tits, 8 Chaffinch, 6 Redwing, 10 Blackbird, 4 Song Thrush, 1 Mistle Thrush, Wood Pigeons, 2 Dunnock, 3 Wren, Jackdaws, Carrion Crows, Rooks, 2 Common Buzzard, 5 Fieldfare, 8 Linnet, Skylarks, 1 Meadow Pipit

A Striking Jackdaw - Broomfield Track 27/3/20

It was fairly quiet for my walk round today with no real obvious change from my previous visit. A couple of Chiffchaff were singing away in competition with each other as I started out and a couple of Robin flitted in and out of the hedgerow as I walked down. It was a much duller day today weather wise and the only butterfly I saw was a single Peacock disturbed from the path.

A couple of Common Buzzard were soaring over the wood and as I started the last leg of the circuit a Kestrel streaked across the lower paddock scattering Wood Pigeons and Jackdaws as it went. Amongst the Jackdaws was a striking individual with noticeable amounts of white feathering in its wings as it flew, with some of the secondaries and primaries being pure white. It was noticeable at rest but particularly striking when it flew.

Jackdaws

Jackdaw

Jackdaw

As I finished my walk alarm calls rang out as a male Sparrowhawk streaked through a gap in the hedge in pursuit of a Blue Tit. On seeing me it banked sharply giving a stunning view as it did so before tucking its wings in tight and disappearing through what appeared to be an impossible small gap in the hedge. A stunning end to the walk.

First Butterflies of Spring - Broomfield Track 25/3/20

With the government lockdown in place due to Coronavirus, when I am able, I am going to have my daily exercise walk along Broomfield track which is just across the road from me. I am lucky it is so near and though there tends to be a fair amount of disturbance as it tends to be very popular with dog walkers and joggers, and even more so now, there is still enough space to be able to have no difficulty in maintaining social distancing.

It was good to be out on a beautifully sunny spring morning and the air was full of bird song with Chaffinch, Robin and Dunnock all giving it their best. A Wren exploded into song nearby as I made my way down the track and Blackbirds and Song Thrush were busy feeding in the paddock. A Chiffchaff sang frequently as it made its way through the trees and a Great Tit appeared to answer in song each time it did so.

I saw a good mix of the usual suspects as I made my way to the upper track. A Jay called as it flew above the hedgerow while in the fields Carrion Crows, Rooks and Jackdaws were feeding in various places. As I neared a sheltered spot I saw my first Peacock butterfly of the year looking absolutely stunning against the blossom.

Peacock Butterfly

As I came down onto the lower track I could hear a Bullfinch (99) calling and a pair of Coal Tits (100) were calling away as they moved steadily through the trees. Each sheltered spot I came too seemed to have at least a couple of Bee-flies busily feeding away, again my first for the year. I always enjoy watching them. They were visiting both the Aconite and Wood Anemone flowers. I also caught up with my first Ladybird of the year.

Bee-fly

Movement amongst the next patch of blossom caught my eye and I came across another new butterfly for the year when I saw a Small Tortoiseshell closely following a Peacock Butterfly. Each time the Peacock butterfly flew it followed it and then settled right next to it and on several occasions seemed to be stroking it with its proboscis. I couldn't tell if it was warning the Peacock butterfly off or attracted to it.

Small Tortoiseshell and Peacock Butterflies

Small Tortoiseshell and Peacock Butterflies

I could hear a Common Buzzard calling with another replying a little further away. Next second one appeared directly above lazily thermalling as moved past and looking stunning with the light shining though its wings.

Common Buzzard

Common Buzzard

I finished the visit with another first butterfly for the year when I came across a Comma butterfly sunning itself as I headed for home, what a beauty. It had been an enjoyable walk by the end I had seen several Peacock, 1 Small Tortoiseshell and 2 Comma Butterflies making the most of the sunshine.

Comma butterfly

Birds seen this visit included: 12 Blackbirds, 4 Robin, 4 Dunnock, House Sparrows, Starlings, 2 Collared Doves, Woodpigeons, 4 Song Thrush, 3 Wren, 1 Jay, Blue Tits, Great Tits, 6 Chaffinch, 15 Linnet, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Chiffchaff, 8 Goldfinch, Carrion Crows, Jackdaws, 2 Coal Tit, 1 Bullfinch, 2 Common Buzzard, Stock Dove,