Another chilly start, but surprisingly little in the way of birds. First stop was the silver birches near Gallagher's underpass but the Redpolls had gone. I'd set up a feeding station on Saturday morning, but not a grain or nut had been taken! A couple of Lapwings flapped over west, escaping the harsh weather on the coast I imagine. I moved onto the Research at East Malling to check the orchards on the off chance a Waxwing or two might have dropped in, but again all very quiet; 35+ Fieldfares and 20+ Redwing feeding in and around the yews in East Malling churchyard.
Back out at lunchtime to do a circuit of the northern half of the Oaken Wood Atlas tetrad. Near Kiln Barn Farm there were 20+ Rooks, 15+ Jackdaws, 40+ Crows, 32 Stock Dove (high count on patch), 220+ Wood Pigeon were in the fields. Twenty-five Lapwings flew west and I hoped I might be able to pick them up later in one of the recently sown fields off Sweets Lane. Again there were no Redpolls in the silver birches, but a gang of Long-tailed Tits moved through the hedgerow with some Blue Tits and a very vocal Coal Tit (needed for the tetrad). Three Jays flew up ahead of my as I cycled towards Luckhurst Farm. Reaching the Manor Riding Stables, off Sweets Lane, I was disappointed that no Lapwings had touched down, but picked out 3x Common Gulls on the grazed land. Heading back to work I was pleased to see the Common Buzzard briefly soar up from Oaken Wood, and a Sparrowhawk drift high east just above him.
3 comments:
Adam ,
On the strength of your recent posts , I very nearly went to try for your Redpolls yesterday , but had to change plans at the last minute . Just as well as you say they had gone . I did a couple of hours at Hayes Farm and got practicaly nothing birdwise , just very cold .
Have also checked berried trees on the estate daily , without another Waxwing sighting , nor even a Winter Thrush for that matter .
Hi Adam.
It is only a matter of time before the Waxwings drop in on your patch, with all that lovely food about, fingers crossed, it's soon.
I found it quiet today as well Adam, didn't find those Waxwings you text me about :-)
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