Ring-necked Parakeet and Water Rail - Broomfield Track 03/04/20

There did not appear to be any new common migrants in on my daily exercise walk but I had an enjoyable walk round in some very pleasant sunshine. The Chiffchaff was in its usual spot and singing away. As I made my way up to the top path I came across a Chaffinch busily feeding on the buds of one of the trees. It literally stopped mid bill full to peep out at me before carrying on looking for the choicest buds.

female Chaffinch

A small flock of 6 Linnet were chattering away in the tops of the hedgerow trees as I made my way down to the lower track and looked beautiful against the brilliant blue of the sky.

Linnet

I was chuffed, as I made my way along the bottom path to first hear and then see, briefly, a Ring-necked Parakeet (103) as it flew up from the wood before disappearing into cover again.I have found it surprisingly difficult to catch up with one this year until now. A Blue Tit amongst the blossom gave some super views as it searched for insects before settling to preen.

Blue Tit

Blue Tit

Blue Tit

I had a very unexpected surprise as I headed past the farm when a Water Rail flew up from the ditch and paused for a second to look at me before disappearing into cover at the bottom of the hedgerow. I have seen Moorhen very occasionally at this site in the past but I have never seen a Water Rail.

Well chuffed I carried on for home and enjoyed listening to a Robin who was in full song as I passed by.

Robin

Stock Doves, Siskin and Bluebells - Broomfield Track 02/04/20

It started out very dull, weather wise, as I began my walk but brightened towards the end with some welcome sunshine. The usual suspects were singing or calling away as I made my up to the top track.
I was surprised to come across 138 Stock Doves and 120 Woodpigeon amongst the Carrion Crows, Rooks and Jackdaws in the top field. It is the most Stock Doves I have seen together.

Stock Doves

Stock Doves

I got a nice surprise as I passed the small wood when a flock of 8 Siskin (102) flew over calling away. It was lovely to hear them. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was repeatedly drumming and a Green Woodpecker called with another replying further away. I enjoyed seeing my first Bluebells of the spring. Most were still buds but some had started to open.

Bluebell

Bluebell

I could hear a Blackcap singing which was then promptly chased by another male. The rest of the walk back was pleasant in the increasingly warm sunshine that had come out but remained quite quiet for birds. It had, however, been an enjoyable walk.


Birds seen this visit included: 2 Chiffchaff, 4 Robin, 4 Blackcap, 5 Dunnock, 3 Wren, 4 Song Thrush, Herring Gulls, 1 Little Owl, 4 Chaffinch, 138 Stock Doves, 120 Wood Pigeon, Carrion Crow, Rooks, Jackdaws, 8 Siskin, Pheasant, Blue Tits, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Green Woodpecker, 2 Common Buzzard, 1 Kestrel,

First Blackcap of Spring - Broomfield Track 01/04/20

I haven't been able to have my usual daily exercise walk for a couple of days so it was nice to be able to head round on the now familiar circuit. A Chiffchaff was singing away from its usual spot and a Jay exploded out of the hedge above me. I could hear a bird making a fairly strange call and it turned out to be a second Jay. I have not heard one make that call before. All the usual were busily either feeding or singing. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was loudly drumming. I was very pleased to hear my first Blackcap (101) singing of the spring and showed that at least one bird had come in since my last visit. I couldn't manage to get a photo as I struggled to focus through the leaves but it was lovely to hear its song once again.

Bee-flies were once again very active as I carried on and some Peacock butterflies fluttered up from the path as I made my way down to the bottom path. Here I came across another Blackcap singing alongside the bottom path. I could not manage much of a photo but was pleased to have a memory shot.

male Blackcap

A little further on a male Chaffinch was singing away and then pausing to check the effect. As it moved out into the open the light just caught in its eye.

male Chaffinch

A Comma butterfly was sunning itself and further along a couple more were reacting to the presence of 2 Peacock butterflies.

Comma Butterfly

Another singing Blackcap peeped out at me as I passed. I really enjoed hearing their song today.

male Blackcap

I finished the walk with a lovely view of a Long-tailed Tit as it landed above me.

Long-tailed Tit

Birds seen this visit included: 1 Chiffchaff, 4 Robin, 5 Blackbird, 2 Jay, Blue Tits, Great Tits, 3 Dunnock, House Sparrows, Chaffinches, Wood Pigeons, 2 Common Buzzard, Carrion Crows, Jackdaws, Rooks, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Pheasant, 5 Goldfinch, 3 Blackcap, 2 Green Woodpecker, 2 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Kestrel, Skylarks, 8 Linnet

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,