Much Hadham Gardening 15.02.11

Whilst gardening in Much Hadham I disturbed a female pheasant, shown above (thanks to Andrew for the photo.) Clearly not well, it was released back into the garden whereupon it hid itself in a corner. Unfortunately, it had died by the afternoon. No sign of injury but I suspect it had eaten something poisonous.

Morning Walk 15.02.11

An early start this morning with a wander over Brick Kiln Hill, around the polo fields and then across to Acremore Street and down Ford Hill. 29 species in all with several species of gull near Acremans (Black headed, herring and lesser black backed) along with 450+ fieldfares on the polo fields consorting with 25+ redwings and 50+ starlings. Skylarks were in good voice, as were great and blue tits, dunnocks,(shown below) the song thrush that continues to sing in the garden as from 6.30a.m. Several great spotted and green woodpeckers were observed as well as bullfinch, green finch, goldfinch and chaffinch. 18 yellowhammers were noted and a single kestrel.
Really good to have enough light to out and about in the mornings.

First signs of spring were the lords and ladies (cuckoo plant) now pushing through the undergrowth and I reckon it is going to be a glorious spring within the next 4 weeks. Plenty of colour if these temperatures keep on going.

Dawn walk 11.2.11

Left home early this morning for a walk to work at the golf club. By 6.30am birds just beginning to sing and move. Highlight was a barn owl returning to its regular day roost. Seen over the 13th fairway heading south east. I intend to try to get some photos of this magnificant bird during the weekend. Another unusual sight was of 2 canada geese heading north over the clubhouse at 6.50a.m.
A song thrush was at its usual perch in the garden and 2 partridge were wandering around in fields by Chapel Lane. Too dark to identify. Other singing birds were robin, blackbird, yellowhammer whilst both green and great spotted woodpeckers called.

A large flock of fieldfare 300+ strong appeared from a local wood near the golf club and moved off south. Not good light but a couple of ghostly light images. Photo taken in the back garden looking East, with morning jackdaws.

23.1.11: Full Field

Whilst coming home from the town, I drove past a field by the turning to Cradle End. In this 1 field I noted a large flock of birds (winter thrushes) so popped home, got the optics and headed back. In all, I counted 250 fieldfare, 200 redwing, 8 goldfinch, 1 pied wagtail, 6 greenfinch, 4 chaffinch, 150 starlings, 25 carrion crows, 8 rook and over 150 wood pigeon.
Photo depicts one of the hundreds of fieldfare

21.1.11

A most unusual sight this morning at Ash Valley G.C. As I looked out from the clubhouse a sparrow hawk shot past the window, carrying a female blackbird. I went outside  (no camera!!) to see if I could find it. To my surprise I watched ( from 4 metres) as the hawk drowned the prey in the stream outside the front of the clubhouse. Each time the blackbird struggled the sparrowhawk adjusted its grip and forcibly pushed the unfortunate victim under again. After 5 minutes the bird was dead whereupon it was plucked and consumed. A quick google search of sparrow hawk drowning prey brought up several reports.
Also on the golf course: 25 siskins, 300 fieldfare and redwing, green woodpeckers, blue, long tailed, coal and great tits, resident kestrel and plenty of corvids and pheasants.
Photo taken early in the morning of  the song thrush that has a singing post in the gum tree.

18.1.11

Whilst on a gardening job in the village a tawny owl was heard to call from a conifer in a private garden around The Ford. Also, overhead, a pied wagtail called as it headed for farmland opposite the pub. Here the fields are full of pond sized puddles and the wagtail was pacing around the perimeter of these watering holes.

January update: 15.1.11

Been away from the computer for a while, but shall add a few sightings from the month. Photos to follow. Hopefully, with the birds beginning to sing in the morning now, I shall find time to get out for a dawn wander every now and again.
A walk on the 15th, just around the local vicinity turned up several species not recorded every walk. Firstly, a solitary common gull was observed over Brick Kiln Hill whilst a little later, a single great black backed gull was seen heading south over Chapel Lane. A large flock of siskins were found adjacent to the 18th fairway on Ash Valley G.C.  as was a common buzzard. Numbers of both fieldfare and redwing seem to be on the increase, with over 250 seen around the fairways.