25th February - From Golden Stars Comes Silver Rain

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.