Firecrest Gem and a Confiding Great Spotted Woodpecker - Broomfield Track 09/01/21

A short walk along Broomfield track turned up a few nice surprises this afternoon. It started well with both Bullfinch and Coal Tit calling and giving tantalisingly brief views. A little further on I caught sight of a Firecrest making its way through the various patches of ivy in the hedgerow. It was a real little gem but extremely active, moving rapidly through and from ivy patch to ivy patch. I tried for some photos and was lucky enough to be able to grab a couple of memory shots of a beautiful little bird.

Firecrest

Firecrest

I paused for a rest and a few moments later a very smart male Great Spotted Woodpecker flew in and proceeded to treat me to some great views as it checked around the trunk.   

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Great Spotted Woodpecker

I headed for home and on the way passed 5 Redwing and a couple of Fieldfare in the horse paddock bringing a short but enjoyable visit to a close.

Redwing

Sunbeams, Coal Tits and Willow Warbler Song - Broomfield Track 10/04/20

I had an early morning walk for my exercise walk today and the air was full of bird song as I made my way along. More Whitethroat were in evidence today and I enjoyed listening to their song and calls. None were in the mood to be photographed though as they flitted from song post to song post, marking out their territory. As I came along the bottom path the sun was streaming through the trees and the effect of the sunbeams and backlit leaves was beautiful.

There also appeared to be more Blackcap in today and at various points the air was alive with their song. A Rabbit enjoying the sunshine seemed remarkably unconcerned with my presence and only moved off at a leisurely pace when I got nearer.

Rabbit

Two male Blackcap were chasing each other through one of the trees and the victor allowed a quick shot as he paused to check that the other bird had moved on. I heard my first Willow Warbler (107) of spring singing and it was lovely to hear the song once again.

Blackcap

A Fieldfare called as it flew across and 2 Red-legged Partridge flew up in a flurry of wing beats before disappearing into cover. Just before I started up towards the upper path I could hear a couple of Coal Tits calling from above me. They are lovely little birds and I always enjoy listening to their calls and song. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was busily drumming away and a Ring-necked Parakeet called.

Coal Tit

Coal Tit

The rest of the walk was very pleasant in the early morning sunshine but remained fairly quiet. A Common Buzzard flew over and a little while later a Sparrowhawk rose lazily into the sky. I finished my walk with a Speckled Wood butterfly enjoying the warmth in a patch of sun.

Speckled Wood Butterfly

In the afternoon, while out in the garden, the local Herring Gulls started to kick up a fuss and the cause turned out to be a passing Red Kite which was a very welcome sight. I did not manage much in the photo line but it is nice to have couple of memory shots.

Red Kite

Red Kite

Birds seen this visit included: 6 Whitethroat, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Common Buzzard, 11 Chiffchaff, 1 Fieldfare, 2 Red-legged Partridge, 3 Wren, 6 Dunnock, 8 Blackbird, Blue Tits, Great Tits, 5 Robin, House Sparrows, Carrion Crows, Rooks, Jackdaws, 2 Collared Doves, 12 Chaffinch, 2 Coal Tits, 10 Blackcap, 1 Jay, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Little Owl, Ring-necked Parakeet, 5 Stock Dove, 1 Kestrel, 1 Sparrowhawk

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,

A Nuthatch Encounter - East Blean Wood 17/02/19

I went to East Blean Wood, after work, to see if I could catch up with any woodland birds for the year.

I started in an area I have not visited before and was thrilled when the first bird that I saw was a Nuthatch (101). I had hoped to catch up with one. It was very active and mainly obscured but I got some nice views. I tried for a photo but did not have much success but it does make a good memory shot. There was a small group of mixed Tits comprising Blue, Great and Long-tailed.

Nuthatch

I carried on and flushed a Woodcock (102). Even though I was keeping an eye out, I had not seen it at all, they are so well camouflaged. It was, however, a very welcome sight. I caught up with a Coal Tit (103) and saw 3 throughout my visit.

Coal Tit

I thought that I heard a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker calling but I cannot be 100% sure. It is a long time since I have heard one. I will need to try again and see if I can have any luck catching up with it again. I would love to be able to see one.

I carried on and heard some Jay's alarm calling. A Common Buzzard flew out of a tree on the edge of the wood and soared above me before moving off. One of the Jay's landed in a tree a little way away and I tried for some photos as it was more or less in a gap through the branches. They are beautiful birds. It sat looking round for a while before moving on.

Jay

Jay

I caught sight of a Goldcrest that was busily looking for food and very active. Their calls are too high for me to hear now and I really miss being able to. They are gorgeous little birds.

Goldcrest

I saw 3 Grey Squirrels during my visit. This one was high in a tree tucking into something.

Grey Squirrel

I came across a Bracket fungus and I think that it is tinder fungus (hoof fungus).

Bracket Fungus - hoof fungus

Bracket Fungus - underside

A lot of the moss was showing new growth and some had fruiting bodies on them. They are so delicate.

Moss with fruiting bodies

I finished off the visit with a Tawney Owl (104) calling which made the perfect end to the afternoon.

Birds seen this visit included: 2 Nuthatch, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Woodcock, 3 Jay, 3 Goldcrest, 5 Blackbird, 3 Robin, 1 Wren, 2 Chaffinch, 1 Fieldfare, 1 Tawney Owl calling.