On the 9th February I will be leading a walk round “My Patch” with a local U3A birdwatching group. I thought I would do a couple of walks to see what was about and make sure I have my eye in for spotting the birds. It’s been a little different from last year there has not been so much movement of little birds, so I thought it would be a good idea to check things out! Of course on the day there will be no guarantees but I hope there will be plenty of opportunities to see some action.

I don’t very often make a list but I thought I would record what I saw on the walks as it’s always surprising how many species I’ve see, of course it includes a list of the common birds as well. The second list is birds I didn’t see on these particular walks but I know they are around my patch and I see them from time to time, that’s what I love about my local wanders I just don’t know what I’ll see on any particular time or day.

We have Coal Tits visiting our garden and I also see them in the lane close to home. Of course when I go on my walks there are always Robins and I can never resist a photo, the one below has got a quizzical look on it’s face!

We have some large Oak trees in the hedgerows and I noticed a number of Jackdaws perched in pairs, it looks like they are getting ready for spring.

The Buzzard who was in the field near the footpath for a few days had disappeared but I spotted him having a squabble with a Crow above the lane and he eventually flew into a tree out of the way of the Crow.

This is my usual problem with taking pictures of small birds, just as I get my camera set up and the focus right they take off but at least I managed to capture this Blue tit as he disappeared! As I headed into the young plantation of trees there was a flock of Goldfinches feeding off of the Alder trees.

I, of course went to my favourite field, Netmead and there was certainly quite a lot of movement. There were flocks of Finches, Goldfinches, Chaffinches and maybe others but they weren’t easy to spot as they flew across the field. I was also pleased to see a flock of Linnets, the first time I’ve seen them in the field this winter. Unfortunately I haven’t seen Yellowhammers this year, there were so many in the field this time last year but I can always go for a fix up Okeford Hill.

A few Reed Buntings either in the hedge or trees.

 

The Fieldfares and Redwings are still in evidence I hope with the milder weather they don’t disappear yet. I love the markings on the Fieldfare and would like to get closer but they soon move if there are humans about, I’ll have to settle down in a hedge and wait when I have time!

 

There are a couple of Gulls that are feeding in the fields, we had one last year and now two, I mainly see flocks flying over either in the early morning or returning towards the coast in the evening.

We were walking up Greenway lane close to home and I noticed two tiny birds flitting along the hedgerow doing acrobatics, my first thought were Wrens because of the size, but I’d never seen Wrens fly like that before. One flew in a tree and we realised it was a tiny Goldcrest, what a stunning little bird I just managed to get a couple of pictures before they disappeared.

Around our walk there is also some rough grass part of the organic farm, a little scrubby but it has two birds I love to see. The Stonechats feeding in the field and either coming up to a fence post or on some dead stems, both the male and female are stunning birds. The same day I spotted a small flock of birds who landed on the fence posts and on the electric wires and I realised they were Meadow Pipits.

I do hope there will be plenty to see next week with some interesting sightings.

Here are my lists for this time of year, although I may have probably missed some!

List of birds seen on my two walks:

1. Blackbird
2. Blue Tit
3. Buzzard
4. Carrion Crows
5. Chaffinches
6. Coal Tit
7. Cormorants
8. Dunnock
9. Fieldfares
10. Greater Spotted Woodpecker (heard)
11. Goldcrests
12. Goldfinches
13. Great Tit
14. Green Woodpecker
15. House Sparrow
16. Jackdaws
17. Lesser Black Backed Gulls
18. Linnets
19. Little Egret
20. Long tailed Tits
21. Magpies
22. Mallard Ducks
23. Meadow Pipit
24. Nuthatch
25. Pheasant
26. Redwings
27. Reed Bunting
28. Robin
29. Starlings
30. Stonechats
31. Swans
32. Thrush
33. Wood Pigeons
34. Wrens

Birds I’ve seen previously on “My Patch”

• • Bullfinch
  • Collared Dove
  • Canada geese
  • Greenfinch
  • Heron
  • Jay
  • Kestrel
  • Kingfisher
  • Moorhen
  • Pied Wagtail
  • Red Kite
  • Rooks
  • Snipe
  • Sparrowhawk
  • Treecreeper