South west walk

Spent Saturday wandering on my patch that encompasses the golf course and Caley Wood. Nothing new on offer but, due to the bright light and unseasonably warm temperatures, much was observed. A pair of kestrels were mating near Bridgefoot Farm and fieldfares seemed to be restless. Maybe time to move north they were thinking.

The resident mallard pair were observed on the Ash as a third kestrel was seen. Snowdrops added colour throughout the walk as singing great and blue tits were heard. In all 4 green woodpeckers were spotted and a great spotted woodie drummed from its favourite tree opposite the Nags Head. Later, in the garden, a flyby pair of Canada geese made an addition to my list for the year.

I watched, enthralled, as a golfer took her ball from the stream that runs through the course, dropped it, and then immediately hit it back into the stream! The frustration of golf seemed a strange pursuit as a pair of skylarks flapped by. Suspect a good breeding area for them on the golf course. A lone daylight fox was observed around the golf club buildings as I walked towards Lordship Farm. Later one, a pair of muntjacs stood stationary as I watched. The only other mammal seen was a grey squirrel.

First photo is a view from the lounge door. Brick Kiln hill past the chapel often offers great sights of a female sparrowhawk.

The labelled photo was taken from the corner of the golf course looking north east. The morning frost still visible on the northern side of the hedgerow.