Swallows have arrived!

We went to the Chew Valley Lake Bird Fair yesterday, mainly to look at camera gear, but also for a spot of bird watching. The weather was wet and windy for most of the day so there were very few small birds about, but we we were pleased to see good numbers of Sand and House Martins and Swallows, hawking for insects over the lake.
Clearly the change in wind direction had finally allowed good  numbers of these summer migrants to arrive for the breeding season. On the way home we also saw a few Swallows flying over the fields near Peasmarsh alongside the A358 so we can at least say they have arrived locally too!
We were also lucky to see a raft of four Velvet Scoter duck out on a very choppy lake at Chew. These birds are actually sea duck and are normally seen on the East coast of GB so the recent easterly winds have presumably blown them off course. The large expanse of water at Chew was probably a welcome sight and they chose to rest before continuing to their summer breeding sites in the far noth of Europe. http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/v/velvetscoter/index.aspx
The wet and windy weather continued today, so the only birding was to be done from the kitchen window. The Blue and Great tits were feeding on the seed, fat balls and nuts on the bird feeders, which no doubt was a necessity as the insects are being washed out of the air.
Let's hope the weather improves soon or another poor breeding season will befall our feathered friends yet again!.

Spring and winter still at odds

Yesterday morning, as we are still working at mum's,  I decided to get up early to have a walk as I feel I am missing out on getting my usual countryside "fix".
I went up to the top of Stantway and then along Holland's Wash Drove, which after being more or less unpassable in the wet weather, has finally dried out enough to venture along it without the fear of losing one's boots in the mud!
A few buzzards were soaring and a lone raven flew overhead  making its unmistakeable cronking call. Then I heard and, after some scanning the sky, saw my first Skylark of the season. What an uplifting sound it is and a real harbinger of spring as it flew ever higher, singing non stop to advertise itself to any possible mate. 
The odd thing was that in the next field there were a flock of Fieldfare feeding, a bird that should have headed off to their breeding grounds in Scandinavia by now, but, because of the cold and easterly winds, have delayed their departure so they are still around.

They are not the only winter birds still about as Redwing are also about, on various fields, such as the football field and school playing field, searching for food before they finally decide to leave us for another year. 

Lucky sighting!

Despite the improved weather this last weekend, a job we have promised to do for my mum has meant that I have not been able to get out for a walk and enjoy the sun. Our good deeds were rewarded though, as, when standing washing up,  I noticed something different in the holly bush at the top of her garden. Borrowing mum's binoculars to investigate I was amazed to see it was a tawny owl, sunning itself out of the wind on a sheltered branch. Mum was delighted to get such good views and I hastily dashed home for my camera, not really expecting it to be still be there on my return. To my surprise it was, and it allowed me to creep up the garden taking photos as though it posed for such events every day!

Sadly it had gone the next morning, but what a treat and the next day we saw a tiny Goldcrest as well as Chiff Chaff hopping about in the same bush, so, despite not being able to get out in the sun, we did at least have some good wildlife sightings!

Rooks in good voice!

The first week of April and the weather has continued to bring bitter easterly winds and hard frosts, although more sunshine than in March. 
The rooks are in full voice, cawing loudly in and around the various rookery's near the village now, such as at this particularly large one in Combe Wood.

Seen here on the left,  from the fields between Scrapton and the A30 and below, a close up from  Scrapton Lane.
The birds seem to be constantly bickering but as they are gregarious, it just seems to be par for the course!

Looking directly up from the footpath that passes almost below the rookery it is quite difficult  to spot the birds, but the noise alone advertises their presence! They continually fly back and forth with twigs to enlarge their untidy nests and will dive bomb any passing buzzard when it soars too close.

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!