First Swallow of Spring - Broomfield Track 11/04/20

There did not appear to be anything particularly new in when I had my usual exercise walk today. Still it was good to be out and to have the opportunity to admire anything that might catch my eye on the way round. A Grey Squirrel searching amongst the grass in the horse paddock looked gorgeous in the afternoon light but made a run for cover with the arrival of a dog walker.

Grey Squirrel

A Great Tit peeped out at me as I made my way along the top path and a Common Buzzard called from over the wood.

Great Tit

As I came along the lower path a Comma was basking in the sunshine. They are very attractive butterflies. Blackcap song came from the wood and a single Willow Warbler was singing away.

Comma

The rest of the walk remained quiet. I was pleased to catch up with my first Swallow (108) of spring when a single bird flew past overhead. Though I have seen several Green-veined White butterflies on the wing over the last few visits it was nice to catch up with one at rest. It initally rested briefly with wings open before moving over to some blossom and giving a good view of its underwings which definitely lived up to its name.

Green-veined White

Green-veined White

It made a nice end to the walk.

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 Whitethroat and Orange-tip of Spring - Broomfield Track 09/04/20

All appeared fairly quiet as I did my usual exercise walk with no sign of any new migrants. Still, I felt very lucky to be out. The Alexanders are romping away and the trees are all starting to show signs of new leaves.

As I headed up to the high path I caught sight of a distant raptor and was pleased to find it was a Red Kite. It remained distant but was a welcome sight. From what I can see from the photographs it appears to be a different individual to yesterday's bird as I cannot see signs of any moulted tail feathers in any of the photographs I took, but to be fair it was a long way away so it may just not show in the photos.

Red Kite

Red Kite

A Common Buzzard did a fairly low fly past as I carried on. Once again I lost my balance while trying for a photo but although it is somewhat out of focus it makes a good memory shot for me.

Common Buzzard

Skylarks were singing away as I made my way along and then just before I dropped down towards the lower path I heard the welcome song of my first Whitethroat (106) of spring. It popped up very briefly but then disappeared from view, giving a few disapproving calls at my presence and staying firmly out of sight. Hopefully in the days to come I will be able to see more of them.

As I passed the cow paddock a Kestrel who had been up on the telegraph post dropped down into the paddock but missed whatever it was that it had seen. A couple of Jackdaw caught its attention and within seconds of take off it had veered in their direction and was streaking towards them sending them up in panic. It did not give chase  but gained height rapidly before moving off.

male Kestrel and Jackdaws

A pair of Common Buzzard were calling to each other with one sat in a tree while the other was calling from out of sight.

Common Buzzard

As I came to the last leg of my walk my first Orange Tip butterfly of spring was resting up before moving to some umbellifiers. They are beautiful butterflies with such a complete contrast between their upper and lower wings. It made a lovely finish to the walk.

Orange-tip Butterfly

Orange-tip Butterfly

Red Kite, Ring Ouzel and first Speckled Wood of Spring - Broomfield Track 08/04/20

I headed for my usual walk on a beautiful spring day and was greeted by my first Speckled Wood butterfly of the year which made a good start to the walk. It was taking advantage of a patch of sunlight before leaving its perch to chase another Speckled Wood butterfly flying past.

Speckled Wood Butterfly

I had an enjoyable walk round but with no sign of anything particularly new in. The air was full of Skylark song and 2 Common Buzzard called to each other as they spiralled higher and higher above me. A nice surprise was 2 Red-legged Partridge exploding up from cover as I reached the halfway point and disappearing behind the hedge. I hoped that they might have settled in the field but there was no sign of them as I made my way further down.

I could hear a couple of Great Spotted Woodpeckers drumming as I passed the wood and a Green Woodpecker called loudly. A group of Dandelion heads caught my eye and I liked how I could see all the stages of the flower from flower to various stages of seed head in the same small area.

Dandelion heads

My walk got a whole lot better when I looked up to see a raptor coming and realised it was a Red Kite (104). Now that was a very welcome sight. What a beauty. I lost my balance as I tried for a photo as it came past and only managed the one nearer shot. By the time I could try for another it had already gained a lot of height but was still a real pleasure to watch and I could see that it had moulted at least one of its tail feathers.

Red Kite

Red Kite

Well chuffed I carried on only to find that the walk still held another very welcome surprise. Heading back up the path past the paddock I could see some Blackbirds in the paddock through the gaps in the Hedgerow and then caught sight of a stunning male Ring Ouzel (105). Luckily for me, though fairly obscured by branches and a wire fence, I was able to see it well enough to try for some photos. It became very alert as some dog walkers came down the path and then flew for cover. I felt so very lucky to have seen it. What a super end to the walk. I looked back over my records when I got home and found that the last time I saw a Ring Ouzel at Broomfield track was on exactly the same day, the 8th of April, but in 2013 and that time it was in the cow paddock. It must be a good day in April for them.

male Ring Ouzel

male Ring Ouzel

Birds seen this visit included: 6 Robin, 3 Wren, 12 Blackbird, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Wood Pigeons, 4 Dunnock, 1 Jay, 8 Magpie, 4 Goldfinch, 5 Chiffchaff, 8 Chaffinch, 5 Song Thrush, 8 Linnet, Rooks, Carrion Crows, Jackdaws, 5 Stock Dove, Skylarks, 2 Common Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestrel, 2 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Pheasant, 2 Red-legged Partridge, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Red Kite, 1 Ring Ouzel

Food and a Feather Prize - Broomfield Track 05/04/20

The sun had come out this afternoon when I headed out for my exercise walk. It was good to be out and I enjoyed listening to and seeing the usual suspects as I made my way along. A Great Tit was demonstrating a wide range of calls between alternating with song and a little further along alarm calls from Blue and Great Tits, Wren, Robin and Dunnock alerted me to a Kestrel perched in the Oak Tree. It flew down into the paddock and as I came round it was perched on one of the fence posts looking stunning in the afternoon light. I could not manage much of a photo but it made a nice memory shot.

Kestrel

A pair of Rooks were busy feeding in one of the fields as I made my way up to the top path and the nearest bird's gular pouch was noticeably swollen with food. The clear afternoon light highlighted its feathers beautifully, particularly when it flew.

Rook

Rook

It remained generally quiet throughout my walk but I enjoyed watching a female Chaffinch with a feather that she was presumably taking back to a nest. Despite a couple of dog walkers passing she stayed tucked in, with it firmly clasped it in her bill while watching them warily, before moving off with it once the coast was clear.

female Chaffinch and feather

I could hear a Ring-necked Parakeet calling again from the wood as I came past and a Long-tailed Tit was busily looking for insects as it moved from tree to tree. They are lovely little birds.

Long-tailed Tit

The rest of the walk remained quiet but I was grateful for the time out and finished with the sweet song of a Robin perched high above as I made my way home.

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,