18th - 24th January - Climb The Long Grassy Track

 The week started with more rain and overcast conditions, later in the week saw overnight frosts.  The garden saw its first Siskins of the year on the 22nd, a male and female, but never returned again for the rest of the week.

The main activity in the garden was around the regular birds which have now been joined by a Wren.  I mentioned this last week and the Wren is now a regular coming to the meal worm dishes when I come out into the garden, even responding to my whistle like the Blackbird and the Robins.

The Blackbirds remain of course, although the male now seems much more interested in protecting territory and is constantly chasing off any other Blackbirds that come close to the dishes.

There has also been a noticeable change in behaviour from the Robins.  Up to now they have been present but not to concerned with coming to feed.  In the last week though I have been able to identify Donald from last year, the Robin with the strange head feathers and it has started to watch me in the kitchen and flying to the door step when I open the kitchen door.  He comes from the right hand side of the garden and the Robin on the left has also started to do the same.  This ends in some posturing between both birds but no fighting, as yet.  Donald also seems to have a mate and they tolerate each other, both feeding at the dishes at the same time.

Donald never came to the hand last year, but was comfortable enough coming into the house on several occasions, one of which had him in the house for up to two hours!  The left hand bird was much more confident to take from the hand and is showing signs once again that the memory is still there, we shall see.

In the photograph you can see the ridge in the feathers on the head.

On Friday the 22nd the Redwings also returned, feeding on the remaining berries on the trees opposite the house.

Saturday was much colder, but with sunny periods that became longer in the afternoon.  I went out late morning, heading down Brislands.  At the junction with Gradwell there is a collection of conifers and rhododendrons, last lockdown this was one of the sites for Firecrest, today though I could only find a couple of Goldcrest, but they showed well.

Gorgeous little birds but difficult to photograph especially when the light is low as they move about constantly.

I walked through Old Down Wood where there were the usual birds calling, Great, Blue, Coal and Marsh Tit, the squawks of Jay and the distant "yaffle" of a Green Woodpecker.  There was also the "gronk" of a Raven, but I wasn't able to find the owner.

I suspected the pond may be partially frozen and that this might push the Tufted Duck closer, but as I arrived I could see that in fact it had pushed the Tufted Duck away, the Mallard numbers were also much reduced, with the ice littered with sticks that many had seen the need to throw onto the ice.  One Mallard had its head tucked under the wing while keeping a watch out.  The low winter light throwing some nice reflections into the water and catching the bottle green head feathers.

I walked from the pond to Lyeway Road, and then walked to open area to scan the fields, there was nothing to be seen.  Above me though a pair of Jays were chasing each other through the Oak trees.

I decided to walk back to the pond by the footpath, passing a nice clump of Sulphur Tuft at the base of one of the trees.

The path runs along the back of the pond.  There were now many people present and small children adding to the broken sticks on the ice.  I came across another Goldcrest, this time showing really well in amongst the holly.

Here the "gold" crest appears more orange red

But when it turns back the light catching the crest turns in more a yellow.

Leaving the Goldcrest I walked around the pond and then headed back into wood.  In the open area just beyond the entrance I could hear a Chiffchaff calling.  After some searching I managed to find it in amongst the branches, but it was constantly moving and I wasn't able to even get a record shot.  It was quite a significant find though, the first I have managed to see in Old Down Wood, or even anywhere locally during the winter.  Previously they have been migrants arriving late March, this was the first over wintering individual.

Another loud "gronk" pulled me away from searching further for the Chiffchaff.  This time I could see the owner and there was not just one but two birds.  They flew over the wood and settled in the top of a Larch tree above my head.

They called to each other, the lower bird being a little more agitated.

Eventually it flew off leaving the other bird at the top of the tree.  Ravens are early breeding birds, with eggs potentially being laid in mid February.  The Raven mates for life and the couples constantly renew their bonds through courtship delays.  Once upon a time the Raven was a bird of high mountainous ground and nests would be found on cliff ledges.  Today they are found in many other areas such as woodland and farmland and they can take over Buzzard nests before the Buzzard has even thought of breeding.  The Ravens here in Four Marks have often been seen fighting with the local Buzzards for ownership of the nests. 

Eventually it flew off to join its mate.

Walking through the wood I was able to get a glimpse of a calling Marsh Tit as it searched through the lichen on a larch branch.

Coming out of the wood I could see a Red Kite flying over the field.

There was another bird on the ground, but I couldn't see what it was interested in, while another came in from higher up.

Also in the field were a Buzzard and a couple of adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls so it could be that there were easy picking in the form of earthworms on offer.

The following morning we woke up to this scene:

Low pressure arriving from the south west had collided with the cold air over the central south and the result was quite a heavy fall of snow, 5-10 cms in Four Marks and the first substantial snowfall for two years.  The surrounding trees were covered in the snow producing a true monochromatic effect.

The garden was not as busy as I expected it to be, but the Wren was about, waiting for the area to be clear before dropping down.

A quick look down to see what is in the dish before dropping down.

A Christmas feel to the Robin

After the snow had stopped I went out for a walk.  The temperature was rising slightly and as a result it was quite misty at about the tree level.  This Great Spotted Woodpecker just about visible as it called from the top of a tree along Brislands.

Walking along Brislands it was a true snowy scene with the trees emerging out of the mist.

Old Down Wood was well trodden already, here the path from the style.

The path again at the diagonal turn off.

It was very much a grey, black and white world, but spread around were small sprigs of beech leaves, their golden brown contrasting with the monochrome.

I took the diagonal path, the only sound, that of the snow falling off the branches, there was no bird song at all.  Above me a Goldcrest searched for small insects and spiders amongst the branches, moving quickly and hovering every so often.

At the end of the path the patch of pines amongst the bramble looked quite lovely, the trunks splattered with snow and the bramble dusted in white.

Looking out across the fields away to the west the layer of mist could be clearly seen enveloping the tops of the trees.

But out in the open it was clear and a perfect winter scene.

The Mallard were still around at the pond, but no sign of the Tufted Duck.  I walked down past the school and then up along Gradwell Lane.  Here the classic view of Old Down Wood.

A few thrushes could be heard as I entered the covered stretch.  I managed to find one Fieldfare in the top of a tree, I had hoped they would turn up on the berries so had to make do with this shot for now.

Coming up Brislands I paused at a tree covered in berries, the first bird I saw was surprisingly a Greenfinch feeding on the berries.

But as I suspected there were also Redwing.

Here you can see maybe it would be better known as a Redarmpit!

Back home there were signs that the skies would begin to clear, but the sun never appeared.  The forecast was for a good day on Monday, I expect the snow to last for maybe a few more days, but looking ahead the milder conditions will return, will this bring any new arrivals, we will have to see.