Wild Wanderings

Diary Entry

Wednesday 14 February 2018

After returning from my Paris trip the paddock was in a state of disorder. Some strong winds had battered about the polytunnel and the composters were rolling around the field. Moreover, the Badgers had had a field day. Their diggings and probing’s were everywhere. It is starting to look quite scruffy now. Tonight, I will put the night camera out to see if I can find out where they are coming again.

The Sparrowhawk was obviously successful as the remains of a Goldfinch, mainly feathers, were lying just under the Damson tree. The Goldfinches use the tree as a communal gathering place. Sometimes there can be as many as twenty or thirty gathered there so they are an easy target for the hawk. When he does strike the aerobatics around the tree is incredible to witness. The Goldfinches scatter immediately he arrives and I have seen him pursue them in mid-air diving and twisting after them. I never seen him catch one in this way but the dexterity of flight of both pursuer and pursued is breath taking. A real aerial pandemonium ballet.

The Kestrel was again active today hovering above the paddock for about twenty minutes. Hopefully they will find the newly placed Kestrel boxes and make a home there. The boxes are still in situ and seemed to have weathered the high winds ok.

Tried unsuccessfully to locate a couple of Holly Trees which will be the last two trees of this years planting. The berries are very attractive to the birds and last all through winter. Redwing, Fieldfare and Waxwing all love them, so I will carry on my search. Last year I had four RED listed birds all visiting the paddock regularly.

Yellowhammer

A fabulous little bird which once seen you never forget. Strikingly yellow in colour with the male a much brighter colour than the female. The male also has a deep orange rump and white edging to its tail when in flight. A typical bunting with its strong beak able to crack the hardest seeds which it loves to find on the ground.

It usually sits in the hedge for a while before making its way to the food source. But once one starts to feed it is usually quickly followed by others.

Reed Bunting

The Reed Bunting is another favourite of mine. Sometimes at first sight the male can be confused with the House Sparrow. But its pale chest and deep black cap combined with its fluttering flight usually confirm a distant sighting. As they get closer the differences become more apparent. They love the feeders and will happily mix with the Sparrows and Blue Tits hanging upside down and jumping about,

Grey Wagtail

What a super smart bird the Grey Waggy is with its yellow rump and slate grey back. Darting and running around in any stale water or puddles looking for insects or grubs. Occasionally stopping on a raised little hillock and surveying the scene before busily going about his business once again. Often seen together with Pied Wagtail both are very welcome visitors.

House Sparrow

The gregarious and social House Sparrow has only just recently returned in numbers. Always in a flock, sometimes six sometimes twenty-six, squabbling and bickering away whilst feeding. They come down the long hedge from the nearby Horse Chestnut trees. Usually I can hear them before they appear, chattering and twittering to each other. But once they arrive the are ready eaters and take it in turns to perch and feed.

Can’t wait to see them back.

Till tomorrow