What happened to March?!

Apologies to anyone who follows my blog and has wondered why there have not been any posts recently. March was a hectic time for me, racing towards retirement and some family matters to be dealt with, so whilst I did get out for a few walks and have some pictures to upload I didn't get a chance to sit down at the computer and put words to screen.

This post then is a catch up of what I saw over the month and starts with foggy conditions on the 5th. I went for a short walk across the fields from Stantway to towards Combe Wood Lane as the early morning fog began to lift. 

Looking towards Wadeford

There were good numbers of Redwing feeding on the short grass, though they must have struggled to find much as the ground was covered in frost  and crunchy underfoot.

As more of the fog lifted I noticed some movement on a hedgerow towards Holland's Wash Drove. On closer inspection I could see two buzzard sitting side by side on the top of the hedge, perhaps waiting for a passing meal?

After a while, one appeared to jump up and pounce back down but I couldn't see if it was after prey or just wing stretching. 

On the 13th I visited Barrington Court on one of the few bright, if still very cold days. The gardens were nearly empty and the few birds that were about, like this male blackbird, were taking advantage of the recently dug earth to search for worms. It was quite happy to let me walk up close,and was probably a resident and quite used to the public being about.

On the 19th, on my usual route to get my morning paper, across the fields from Stantway and then into SSW via the green lane from Combe Wood Lane I was pleased to see a song thrush feeding. It seems such a shame that this lovely shy bird is seen less and less these days. 

On reaching SSW I was pleased to see that one of the nest boxes( number 4)  which had fallen down from one of the trees at north end had been put back up, this time on a tree towards the south end. (Thanks to the chaps who work so hard to maintain this peaceful little haven in the village centre). I was even more delighted to see it was being inspected by a blue tit and can report that a pair have been seen taking in nesting material since.

Finally, on the 28th, after some overnight snow which gave some wintry scenes across the valley once again and 

no doubt to the annoyance of the wildlife, like this rabbit in a field near Cat tail, in Wadeford,

I was delighted to see some Siskins in someone's garden, having failed to see any in my own this year, feeding alongside a Goldfinch. What I was actually looking for though were Redpoll,  as I had never seen these in the parish and I was getting very frustrated as at least three different people had reported them on their bird feeders this winter and every time I tired to spot them I "dipped" out, as they say in birding parlance! Anyway, I can report that I did in fact see them in the same garden as I saw these Siskins, but unfortunately I have not, as yet, managed to get any good photos of them, though I will go on trying!

Anyway, sorry for such a long post, I will endeavour to keep more up to date in future!

Spring is stopped in its tracks!

After a few days of sunshine, spring seems to have been put on hold with fog, snow flurries and a biting wind, described by Monty Don the gardener, as being as sharp as a stiletto!
Redwing and Fieldfare have put in an appearance this week, demonstrating the fact that it really is still winter.

Fieldfare and Redwing

These birds were about earlier in the winter but have reduced in number till this week, when flocks of 100+ have been seen feeding in the local fields. I noticed they particularly like the fields which, until recently, have had grazing sheep. I suppose the insects from the dung are providing much needed sustenance.

Redwing

The birds appear more colourful than they did earlier in the season as they are gradually changing into their breeding plumage. They won't be breeding here though, moving back to their Scandinavian summer homes as the days lengthen.
Still they brighten up the cold grey days until the spring gets going again!

Signs of Spring?

As February rolls on, signs of Spring are certainly about, with Daffodils appearing in SSW in the first week of the month and more Snowdrops spreading along the banks.

Daffodils in SSW 4th February

Snowdrops along the churchyard banks

Cyclamen in the churchyard

Hazel catkins are also sprouting in the hedgerows and a few days of sunshine in the third week of the month even encouraged the spring cyclamen to flower in the churchyard by the South porch.

Hazel catkins  in lane near Woolhayes

On Monday 18th February the sun shone and I saw and heard my first Chiff Chaff of the year at the Combe sewage works. It is possible it was an over wintering bird but the warmer day must have encouraged it to start singing!

Another bird I saw enjoying the sunshine that day was a beautiful male Bullfinch near Clayhanger. I heard it first calling its rather boring single whistle but what it lacks in voice it makes up for in colour!
It was rather distant but even so the colours are very distinctive in the brown undergrowth.
Hopefully there will be more sunshine to come!

Big garden birdwatch

The weekend of 26/27th January was the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch, when everyone is encouraged to sit down for an hour and count the birds in their garden. Although the snow lingered, it was not quite as cold as the week before and there weren't so many birds about. I counted 14 species- including a small group of

Long-tailed tits and a pair of Robins, all of which came to the various feeders dotted around the garden. The information that the RSPB collects from this exercise is very helpful in providing trends on what is happening to various species.

Robin

Long-tailed tits

 

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Big freeze!

With temperatures dropping to at least -2.5C, the roads were very icy this morning and there was adefinite crunch underfoot.

Many of the bushes and trees are bowed under with the weight of the remaining snow and branches are in danger of snapping off, so beware if you walking underneath!

 

 

 

The views are all still mostly monochrome, except for a few places where unexpected colour, like this red fencing, adds some relief.

Remember to keep putting out food for the birds as they struggle in the cold temperatures. Things with high fat content like suet are welcome and birds like blackbirds and thrushes love fruit, bruised apples, sultanas etc will be gobbled up, if you can keep the wood pigeons, rooks and jackdaws off

 

Another important thing to provide is a supply of ice free water. You can get some ideas of how to do this on the RSPB website here . I use the first method with a tea light under the bowl. Remember to empty the bowl at night though or you will end up with solid ice in the bowl in the morning!

Next weekend, 26/27th January, is the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch, so keep topping up your feeders all week to ensure you get some good birds in the garden for the count.

 

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What a difference a week makes!

The contrast in the weather between last weekend and this one is really marked.

Last week the squirrel in the garden was happily feeding on the bird feeder.
Then the snow, which was correctly forecast, fell over Thursday night, so that by Friday morning the world had turned black and white and the squirrel was nowhere to be seen and the view looked very different indeed.

The views of the village from Stony Down (below) on Saturday were picturesque, but still black and white.

The birds were flocking to the garden feeders or, in the case of the song thrush, was taking advantage of any berries still left on the yew trees in the churchyard.

The churchyard in the snow.

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Sunny morning walk in Combe

Last Sunday we went for a walk around the village and the sun shone for change! We were not the only ones about though and as we walked along the gated part of the lane at Woolhayes we watched a fox as it crossed the boggy field of sedge and reeds.

It was clearly hunting as it regularly paused and listened to any movement in the undergrowth. It pounced a couple of times but didn't catch anything but it put up about a dozen snipe which were sheltering in the long grass.

 

Continuing on to the sewage works is always worth a scan for something unusual. (last spring there was a yellow-browed warbler from Siberia that attracted many birdwatchers).

We were rewarded by a lovely grey wagtail, a species that likes running water and often hangs around here, probably because of the insect life.

 

Along the lane we heard a bird singing what at first sounded like a song thrush, but without the repeat phrases. It was high up in a tree and the picture is not great but I am pretty sure it was a mistle thrush.

All in all a great walk, how lucky we are to have such a variety of wildlife in our parish.

 

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