Snow walk 02.02.09 8.00am - 12.00 noon

A wander through good snow along the Ridge path to Bush Wood, Winding Hill, Much Hadham post office and then returning along the River Ash. Light was poor, but views were superb with new covering of 6 inches plus of crisp snow. Not many birds about, with gold, green and chaffinches utilising the nut feeder in the garden. A moorhen was recorded along a ditch and a kingfisher was heard at Winding Hill. A pale morph common buzzard was observed near Ash Valley golf course and many yellowhammers noted. A superb male bullfinch was photographed along the ridge, but poor light led to a disappointing photo. Several gulls, both great and lesser black backed, headed north. A grey wagtail was seen at the Ford whilst a confiding pied wagtail was recorded in the garden.

Photos today show the garden at 6.45am, the River Ash looking south at The Ford, Brick Kiln Hill activity, a view towards Bush Wood on the ridge path and the goldfinches on the garden feeder

1st February: a new species

A walk to The Old Crown at Much Hadham for an excellent roast lunch offered the first sighting of a kingfisher along the River Ash near Winding Hill. Seen briefly on the outward walk and heard on the return journey. A superb sight and one that highlights the quality of the water in the river. Also, 2 common buzzards, 35+ fieldfares south of the Ford and the usual tit and finch numbers along with huge numbers of corvids and pigeons.
Upon arriving at home my new seed feeder has already been discovered by 2 gloriously plumaged goldfinches. With the skies becoming heavier with the forecasted snow, no good photos were taken of the birds.
However, an ancient yew tree in a back lane in Much Hadham was most photogenic, with the trunk having twisted itself into amazing shapes that depicted gargoyles and tortoise heads. See photos attached. One also reminded me of a Picasso type face, looking, as he used to paint them, from sideways on.
The kingfisher takes my total of bird species to 83. I shall endeavour to find time to get along this stretch of the river and see if I can manage a few photos

31st January Westland Green

A mid afternoon wander around Westland Green, the disused gravel pits and Caley Wood offered a rare sighting of a distant but superb red kite. This was only my second record of this bird, so most pleasing. Heading east towards Little Hadham, it was keeping low whilst being mobbed by corvids from all sides. Also seen were 19 pied wagtails, in one flock, feeding on the plough behind Caley Wood. Good numbers of mallards were registered on the pits along with several moorhen. A kestrel was near the golf course and a marsh tit (only 4th record) was seen in the hedgerow not far from Alder Wood. A solitary great spotted woodpecker was feeding at a garden nut feeder and a large party (15+) of long tailed tits breezed through Caley Wood. Photos show the pied wagtails, a view looking south east from Caley Wood and the male kestrel.

28th Jan: mid afternoon to dusk walk

A walk along the River Ash and up to Bush Wood this afternoon, returning as the early evening chorus was just beginning. Robins, song thrushes and a solitary mistle thrush were audible around the war memorial, with the local corvids heading for their roost as pictured here.
Starlings, blue and great tits and house sparrows were evident around the Ford along with collared doves and overhead wood pigeons. A kestrel flew over the road south of the village and a common buzzard was flushed from feeding on a dead fox towards Bush Wood. Yellowhammers called and an assorted finch flock (green and goldies) flew east to roost as a green woodpecker and fieldfares called from local cover.
The first signs of flora for spring were encountered in the shape of snowdrops. Certainly later this year than for the last 5 or 6. Most of nature appears to be late this year, due to the heavy frosts. I have yet to hear any woodpeckers drumming. Hopefully, a warmer spell will soon bring things up to speed.

More rain: Sunday 25th January

Perpetual rain restricted my movements but I did manage to get down to the River at the Ford in the evening to record the torrent that was rushing southwards. A visit later in the evening to Winding Hill showed that the water level was only just still under the bridge. Photos here, taken from the footbridge leading to Brick Kiln Hill.

RSPB garden bird watch 24.01.09

An hour spent recording visitors to the garden, with results being forwarded to the RSPB. Highlight was a great spotted woodpecker utilising the nut feeder as shown here. Blackbirds, great tits, blue tits, fieldfare, wren, robin, starling, jackdaws, wood pigeon, collared dove, dunnock, house sparrow, chaffinch and greenfinch were all seen. Plenty of other species, including gulls carrion crows and rooks were witnessed but were not part of the count as they were only in Chapel Lane air space and not visitors to the garden.

Just as I was completing the timed session a sparrow hawk shot past the window and over Ford Field. My 2nd record from the garden.

Saturday 24th January

A mid morning walk, in good light and increasing temperature. I ventured up Chapel Lane and then on to the footpath round the back of Caley Wood. Here, I diverted into Cornwood gravel pits before heading off to the golf course for a coffee. I returned along New Road and on to the River Ash. Usual suspects were all on show and it was good to see the river flowing.

A song thrush was singing in trees adjacent to Chapel Lane as I took the footpath. Magpies and assorted corvids were all visible and fieldfares headed west overhead. A one kestrel hunted along the footpath hedgerow where a green woodpecker flew off noisily. Dunnocks were recorded in the same hedgerows along with a variety of finches mingling with the yellowhammer flock. A solitary great spotted woodpecker called from Caley Wood as I checked the pits. A good number of mallards, male resplendent in their mating plumage, were present but no other water birds were recorded. Long tailed tits and linnets were registered on the footpath that runs parallel to the 1st and 2nd hole. Overhead, black headed gulls, herring gulls and finally a flock of starlings, took the species count to 27.

Photos attached show a great tit, long tailed tit along with the River Ash and a couple of reflection shots from the pits. Ice still remaining on the surface being testament to the still wintery temperatures.

Saturday 17th January

A most pleasant walk in good, bright light saw me heading along the Ridge path to Bush Wood and then back along the Ash Valley. A check o the barn owl roost proved negative, but there are still signs of it roosting there, with plenty of owl pellets. This walk offered a good selection of birds with several being unusual sightings. A pair of canada geese headed south west over Bush Wood whilst a pair of marsh tits were feeding by The Ford. a solitary skylark called overhead and a single herring gull weaved its way southwards.

A superb pair of male bullfinches were noted south of the Ford and a covey of 4 red legged partridge were flushed near Acremore Street. A search for wintering woodcock in coppices and woods also failed to turn any up but a fox was startled to find itself so close to me. Numbers were again supplied by yellowhammers, with a party of over 30 near Bush Wood and another, slightly smaller group along the river.

Away from the walk a splendid fallow deer stag was recorded in fields adjacent to the A120 at Cradle End and a party of 10 waxwings were photographed in Bishop's Stortford. these have been present for 2 weeks, feeding on a rowan tree in a front garden near Parsonage Lane. Photos attached show the splendid waxwings, the fox, a goldfinch against a bright January sky and the first lamb of the year.

Sharp night in Little Hadham

Popped out for a late night smoke into the garden last night. Air was sharp but surprised to read the temp shown on the northerly facing thermometer. See attached snap. Temperature read -14C!!

Just for the record, 10 waxwings were discovered in Bishop's Stortford this morning. No camera but brilliant birds to see. Directions can be found at

www.btinternet.com/~bsbirdgroup

If you're local then pop along and watch these hugely colourful and trilling birds.

First walk of the New Year

Saturday 3rd Jan and my first walk of the new year. I headed off along Chapel Lane and via the footpath to Westland Green. At the back of Caley Wood are a few disused, small gravel pits that look good for certain spring species. Very overgrown so good for warblers as well as water fowl, perhaps. Certainly worth checking regularly. Kingfisher and coot may be added from here. Through Caley Wood gave the first good birds of the walk, where I observed Great spotted woodpecker, long tailed tit, nuthatch, treecreeper as well as great and blue tits. I spent time here hoping for a lesser spotted woodpecker, but to no avail. All of these birds were visible from next to the 2nd green on Ash Valley G.C. A bullfinch flew over head as I wandered over the course, spotting a distant, soaring common buzzard, making a species list of 23 for the short 2 hour wander.
Photos today show a confiding robin, several views as I walked through Caley Wood, flowering gorse on the golf course and a view of the back of the chapel at the end of the garden