Last walk of the year

New Year's Eve found me along the Ridge to Bush Wood, across the River Ash and over the golfcourse. In all 30 species were recorded, the highlight being a party of 11 siskins that headed over the 17th fairway in a northerly direction. My attention was drawn to them by their musical flight calls. A small scandinavian finch, the male being bright yellow and black with the female looking rather similar to a female yellowhammer. Only the second record of these this year, so pleasing to finish the year on a high note. Also, 5 splendid bullfinches, a sparrow hawk over the fields adjacent to the Ridge path, 4 mallards high over going east, 2 coal tits by the Ash and a party of over 100 fieldfares in fields by the golf course. A great spotted woodpecker called as I popped into the clubhouse for a warming coffee and a solitary skylark headed over west. Only one photo shoot as the light was poor. Shown here a series of shots of a fieldfare.