Wednesday 2 January 2013

Thursday 2nd January 2013


Belated Happy New Year to you all!  2013 has started well with the reappearance of the pair of Hawfinches in Barming.  I caught a brief glimpse of them in the field maples on the east side of the South Street playing fields at 09:45 this morning, but got much better, and prolonged views in St Margaret's Churchyard, Barming from 11:45 onwards.  The birds were often seen in the large ash tree that is just south-east of the church, and they were often in the company of a small flock of Greenfinches.  The birds were not always together and sightings of one or the other of the pair were also had in the Oak tree to the west of the church and also in the smaller trees on the eastern and southern perimeter of the churchyard.  The Hawfinches would linger for a short period, disappear on feeding sorties to both the east, south and north of the church, often flying out of sight, but often returned within 5-10 minutes during the period I watched them. As I left a male was still perched in atop the ash tree, but was seen to fly off strongly north as I walked back home.  Both the Hawfinches and Greenfinches were seen to go into the largest Yew tree in the churchyard - I wonder if this may be a roost site for them?


Also seen were 26 Linnets, 4 Yellowhammers and a Skylark in the stubble field N of Church Lane, GS Woodpecker, Sparrowhawk, Mistle Thrush, 2x Song Thrush, 3x Redwing and 17x Fieldfare in the churchyard.

7 comments:

Greenie said...

Adam ,
Well done with the Hawfinches again , and with the 2013 arrows .
I feel another visit coming on .

Phil said...

Excellent 'map' Adam. Sorry I didn't reply to your text earlier today, got carried away with the delights of New Hythe. Hope to try and connect with the Hawfinches in the next couple of days.

Marc Heath said...

Love the photos. Now thats directions for you. Only 2 days in and the arrows and lines are already making appearances. Brilliant.

Alan Pavey said...

Nice one Adam, good to get a pic mate. Happy New Year to you to.

Warren Baker said...

I'm with marc, your arrow pictures set you aside from ''normal'' birders Adam :-) :-)

Might have to pop across and see the Hawfinches soon.

Adam said...

Cheers fellas - already broken my first New Year's Resolution with those arrows ;-)

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Mike H said...

Good to catch up with you today. Even tho it was bried I did get to see one on the first visit. Unfortunately had not managed to see any more by 3.15 when the visit was cut short. The arrows were a great help too.!!!