North West parish corner 10.12.09

A morning walk in superb light began with a wander to Fox Earth Wood, over the A120 and up to Albury End, before doubling back. I then took footpaths that eventually brought me out at the traffic lights at The Ash. 30 species in all with several good

birds. Highlight was finding a pair of stonechat ( 1 shown above, albeit very distant!). Only 3 rd parish record and first of a pair. Last 2 observations come from Ash Valley Golf course, both winter records (Sept 2009 and winter 2008) Also, a common buzzard rose from a telegraph pole just as the camera focussed, a pied wagtail on a local rooftop, a single linnet overhead and massive numbers of jackdaws, rooks and crows. Former, well into the 500's and probably closer to 750! Large numbers of woodpigeons, too.Another good bird species was coming across 6 meadow pipits, but the strangest was an Australian black swan, feeding on grass adjacent to the recently constructed lake at Albury End. Shows potential this, with a bank of sedge. 2 mallards and 6 feral farmyard yuck ducks were alsop present.A good walk and an area I shall pay a little more attention to in the spring.