Finally a run of dry sunny weather, but with it a cold easterly wind and overnight frosts. This though has dried out much of the ground, as well as it be frozen. Looking from inside at the glorious sunshine we had no hesitation in going out for a walk. Looking up at the blue sky a jet was setting a vapour trail through the sky, a feature of the day in the dry cold conditions.
We set off along Brislands with the east wind on our back. As we came out into the open a small flock of birds came up from behind the hedge. I thought at first they were Starlings but it soon became clear that they were larger and in fact Golden Plover.
Golden Plover are regular around the fields in the winter, and today they seem to have been attracted to the activity in the field. The field was being ploughed and along with many gulls and Lapwings there was a large flock of Golden Plover already on the ground.
This is just a small sample of the flock. In total I counted 154 birds, which is a good size flock for around here. They were rather flighty and would not settle, taking off and landing once again.
The ploughing was probably turning up insects and worms, and it was not just the gulls and plovers that were interested, a Buzzard was cruising over the field, and a Red Kite also drifted across.
As the tractor appeared from down the hill all the gulls went up along with a large flock of Lapwing.
I turned to look across to Old Down, and a pair of Raven were displaying above the wood. Every year there is a battle between the Ravens and the Buzzards over nest sites in the wood. I have seen evidence of the Buzzards nesting, with young present, but have never confirmed the Raven's nesting.
As we walked down the hill Fieldfare and Redwings were present in the top of the trees. The chuckling call of the Fieldfare all around us. A little further on the Fieldfare could be seen in the field in numbers that were just to difficult to count.
We stopped at the barns to talk to the cows, looking up the hill towards Old Down the moon was just rising above the trees.
Along the roadside little yellow flowers were just emerging. The Lesser Celandine the first colourful flower of the year, and a sign that spring, despite the cold today, was not too far away.
At the bottom of the hill a Kestrel sat on a post but was gone as I tried to get closer. Looking up the hill once again across the field towards Old Down the trees looked splendid in the sunshine and against the blue sky.
Looking out to the west we could see steam coming from Ropley Station, nad then the train appeared heading towards Four Marks.
It must be busy times for the Watercress Line, probably due to the weather, there were five coaches in the train.
Walking up Swelling Hill there were a few birds singing, mostly though were Robins. Rather than expending energy singing, the birds were saving it and searching for food. It would seem though territory is important for Robins.
As we approached the pond we came across a Mistle Thrush in the filed. It was searching for worms, and maybe it has a nest already, they are know for nesting early in the year.
Coming down the hill towards the school the field was full of around fifty Woodpigeons, they flew up and disappeared into the trees on the other side of the road.
We walked on towards home and a cup of tea, funny how some sunshine and blue sky can lift the spirits, despite the cold in the air. Unfortunately there is the threat of the white stuff coming later in the week, lets hope they have it wrong.
Late in the afternoon the Long-tailed Tits came through as they do every afternoon, it is a flock of 6-8 birds. They are now the third bird to take a liking to the mealworms, and come looking specifically for them. At first it was just one bird, but now they all know where to find them.
When ever the sun does come out the Starlings will sing, even if it is cold.
Later on the the sun dropped in the sky, and the colour changed to the pinkish grey glow, a sign that the temperature would drop quite quickly.
Winter continues, fluctuating between grey overcast and drizzly days, interspersed with cold spells and flurries of snow. What has been missing has been the sun, and this has made the season very hard this year.
This morning rain was lashing on the windows before dawn, but with first light it had eased away. There was the threat of some blue sky, and maybe some sunshine, but it didn't last long as the clouds rolled back in and it turned bitterly cold.
As always the garden was full of birds, Goldfinches and Siskins squabbled around the feeders, and on the lawn the blackbirds squared up to each other for the prime area under the feeders. The finches drop the seed which is then eagerly picked up quickly by the Blackbirds. They have been joined recently by the Blackcaps too, but they were not about today. The Woodpigeon numbers have also been increasing with at least eight lumbering around the garden today with their New York waddle.
The number of birds now aware of the mealworms has increased. It is now not just one Blackbird, but at least three, maybe four and they all come when we whistle. There are still three Robins, they usually wait in the tree as the worms are put out.
They have also taken to using the little ceramic bird feeder as they don't have to compete with the Blackbirds there.
But they do have to compete with the Long-tailed Tits, who have learnt very quickly, mainly through curiosity that the mealworms are available, and they fly to the ceramic pot and the tray. This morning at least eight came through the garden on several occasions.
There was originally only one that would take them, but now many more have learnt that there is a nutritious meal available and they all fly in and they take the worm back to the tree where they hang on one leg to while holding the worm with the other and eating it
The Blue Tits were about in numbers. Always making their way to the top of the trees.
Another small regular visitor over the last few weeks has been a male Goldcrest. Usually announcing his presence by the loud calls coming from the bushes, he is a bundle of energy as he moves through branches visiting almost all of the feeders quickly.
As it flitted around the branches the bright yellow crest that gives it his name would flash in the gloom.
Siskins have been present in the garden this winter in record numbers, just today there were fourteen competing with the Goldfinches, and even though they are smaller they are still prepared to take on the bulkier cousin.
Another regular user that has been a very welcome sight this year has been a pair of Redpolls. Today I only saw the one, a male, and he is beginning to develop the pinkish red blush of the breeding plumage on the breast and forehead.
In fact it was the Redpoll that led to an unexpected but very welcome sighting, for me that is, and not necessarily the birds.
In text conversation with Ian he remarked he hadn't seen a Redpoll this year, so in an effort to wind him up I decided to message when I saw this one.
I went to get my phone, and came back to watch the Redpoll as I sent the message to Ian, but looking out of the window there were no birds. I did though see a shape in the middle tree that I thought was a Woodpigeon, but then suddenly realised that Woodpigeons don't have long yellow feet, with threatening claws on the end!
I have had Sparrowhawk in the garden,but they never stay, so once again I rushed to get the camera, and then walked back carefully to the window in the hope it was still there, and it was. I was then able to get a lovely portfolio of photographs, concentrating on those incredible yellowish orange eyes.
She looked around constantly, had she arrived in an attempt to take one of my garden visitors, probably, the feeders are not just for the finches it would seem.
Close up they are amazing birds.
The windows sometimes shading the view as I moved to get a better view away from the branches.
Then another shake, and a look around then the body lowered and she pushed off form the branch and flew out of the garden, scattering a flock of Jackdaw as she left.
With the nights now drawing out, and the days getting longer hopefully there will be signs of Spring all around. After this winter it can't come any sooner.
