We have been away all week, up on the Isle of Skye in the north west Highlands of Scotland. There are the first details on the "away blog". This morning though with it overcast and quite mild we decided to get some air, and to stretch the legs after what was a long journey home yesterday.
As we walked along Brislands there were Robins singing on either side of the lane, and my first singing Chaffinch of the year. A little further on I picked out a Firecrest singing in a different location to where I have seen them before. As seems to be the case lately it was difficult to pick the bird out, but we could see it moving through a Holly tree. Then with one final flourish of sing it flew out of the tree and away from the camera.
A little further on I was again frustrated by a group of Redwing that managed to evade my attempts to get a photograph. As it was the first photograph I managed to take was of the Lesser Celendines that were now flowering well along the road side.
We carried on down the lane, I could hear in the distance a singing Skylark but was not able to see it. At Manor Farms sheds there were a few House Sparrows but no sign of either a Pied or Grey Wagtail.
It was extremely quiet, perhaps as quiet as I have known it around here for some time. Spring is just around the corner, and it can't come quickly enough for me. It wasn't until we turned up Gilbert Street that we noticed something different, the sky was full of Common Gulls.
It was difficult to count them as they drifted above us, but I estimate it must have been close to 200. They were gathering in a distant field, then were spooked and came over the lane heading north to the paddocks.
As we started up Swelling Hill there was a constant stream of water coming down the hill. As we walked on we found the source, the water was coming up out of the ground by the side of the road, this was a good indication of how high the water table is currently around here.
A little further on in a familiar site was a lovely show of Snowdrops in amongst the yellow celandines.
Reaching the top of the hill I noticed a large bird off in the distance, and the day was brightened by the sight of a Red Kite floating over the field in that relaxed motion that is so characteristic of the bird's flight.
At the pond two Moorhen burst from the side of the bank in their normal panic, and on the far side to drake Mallards and a single duck cruised along side the reeds.
We made our way down past the school then turned up Gradwell Lane, again nothing much about, a singing Song Thrush and a couple of Wrens brought us to a wait, but they managed to hide successfully from us. A singing Robin was too much of a temptation, and I couldn't resist it.
As we headed along Brislands a couple walking towards us suddenly pointed into the field where a Roe Deer sprinted away from us, and sadly as we passed the village hall, on the other side of the road was a dead Badger, probably killed last night from the condition of the corpse, always a sad sight.
Well we managed to get the needed air, and the chance to stretch our legs but that was about all. Although Red Kite and Firecrest is not a bad couple of sightings
The last few days have been dry with some very welcome sunshine, the temperature though has dropped and as a result the garden saw an increase in visitors to the feeders. The colder air though doesn't seem to have deterred the Starlings from laying claim to territory, and this bird seems to be having a chat with one of the local Woodpigeon, maybe good morning, good morning.
The mild weather though has had an influence on the local birds, Blackbirds are now singing and I have seen male and female birds tolerating each other in the garden which is a good sign that they may have turned their thoughts to love as we head towards St Valentine's Day.
The male House Sparrows, too. are busy chirping away from the gutters. The partially leucistic bird seems to have taken up residence on one of the corners of a neighbour's house, I watched it singing at first.
Then it turned and went inside under the tiles, a sure sign that it is thinking about nesting.
Clearly its different plumage colouring is not handicapping it at all.
In the garden the feeders were busy with Goldfinches, but it was also pleasing to see that there were also several Greenfinches turning up, the male birds looking very impressive with their green and yellow plumage.
Slightly larger than the Goldfinches they are prepared to fight off the smaller birds, and other Greenfinches. Opening beaks and flapping wings as they square up to each, it shows the contrast between the green and the yellow wing bars and outer tail feathers.
The sunshine during the morning did not last that long and soon the dark clouds rolled in and the first rain showers hit the windows at the back of the house. With the rain the birds seemed to all leave the garden, a Robin hung about picking up the fallen seed, and a large Woodpigeon finished off the seed on the table.
The forecast fro the coming week is for colder weather, and over the weekend the possibility of snow, I doubt it will come to much though. It always seems to be the way hat the weather turns colder once we start to approach spring, the cold air blocking the advance of the early migrants.
After the battering that Storm Imogen gave us yesterday, and the continuing rain this morning it was pleasant to see that the the skies cleared mid morning, and then the sun came out.
With the recent appalling weather I haven't been into the woods since the start of the year. It is at this time of year the Tawny Owls are starting to nest, as I mentioned on Sunday there has been a male calling close to the house for sometime now. The one consistent bird for the four years that I have been writing this blog has been a Tawny Owl that Helen and I found, courtesy of a Jay, in February 2012, since then probably the same bird has been present in the same tree from February to June, I suspect that it is a male,and that it had a mate and a nest close by, but I have never been able to confirm this.
It was with the hope of finding this Tawny Owl for its fifth year that I set out late afternoon to walk through the woods. As I turned into Brislands a flock of Long-tailed Tits called from the large conifer on the corner.
I decided to walk into the wood through the Gradwell entrance. The walk into the wood was very difficult as the ground was very muddy and in places flooded, and to make matters worse, two small dogs constantly barked at me from the paddocks, they were extremely aggressive rushing the fence, not sure if they would have been so brave had the fence not been there.
As I entered the wood the sun was dropping below the trees and casting a lovely golden glow across the tops of the larches and through the bracken.
I made my way to the area the owl would normally use, and checked the tree it has favoured for the last four years. The tree though seems to have lost a few large branches, and the area where the owl would normally sit has become a lot more open. As a result it wasn't there, and there was no sign of any droppings that would normally be about if the owl was using the tree to roost in.
I started to think where it would likely go should it still be with us. There are several high Spruce and Pine trees and I scanned through them to see if there was anything. Then for some reason I picked up on a strange colour, and a shape high in one of the Spruces. This is what I saw.
Zooming in I had found my owl.
I couldn't believe it! Finding it was like the proverbial needle in a haystack, I have no idea what attracted me to the shape, but I am glad something did. The colour and patterns on the wing look very much like Morris, and I was thrilled to find him once again. Five years and going strong, it was a really good find.
I tried very hard to see if I could get a better view, stumbling through the bracken and bramble. Every place I tried could not get a clearer view so in the end I had to be satisfied with the one I had managed to take. There is no doubt what it was, and I hope he and his mate have a successful breeding season.
My next quarry was to find the Roe Deer. I haven't seen one since November, I knew they were around as I had seen the footprints, and this evening was going to be one of the better chances I have had recently.
I headed to the main path, and stood around listening to the birds calling. Unfortunately all I could hear were Robins, Wrens and a few Blue and Great Tits. There was no sign of any birds high in the Larch trees, but I did find a small group of Goldfinches in the evening sunshine.
I made my way around the perimeter path, and looking out to the west, Helen and my favourite view looked splendid with the setting winter sun.
I came off the perimeter path, and headed to the West End of the wood. There is a group of very mature Beech trees close to the path, and under them wild Daffodils flower in the spring. The Daffodils were almost in flower, they seem to be about three weeks ahead of where they were last year, they usually flower in the second week of March. You can also see the advanced shoots of Bluebells as well.
As I approached the field on the edge of the wood a group of twelve Great Tits were calling and moving through the trees.
Dark clouds were gathering away to the north west, but I discounted the thought of rain. I turned back on to the perimeter path, then headed in towards the middle of the wood. As I did so two Roe Deer ran across the path in front of me, and then away out of sight.
I walked on a little further, stopping to watch and listen to a group of Goldcrests. Then a little further on some movement in the bracken revealed a group of four Roe Deer including one buck with antlers covered in velvet. At last I could get a picture.
Nice to see them after quite a long absence. They then decided to move away, running and jumping through the bramble.
I carried on, heading back to the perimeter path, and then along a slightly muddy path. Away to the west the sun was still up, but dropping fast through the clouds casting an orange glow in the sky. Away in the distance the bare trees on the top of a distant hill broke up the horizon.
Just before I left the wood the sun appeared below the clouds casting yet another duffernat landscape.
As I walked along Brislands towards home the rain did come, although it didn't seem it mount to much, it is as if a day can't go by with out the wet stuff.
My walk home was accompanied by a singing Song Thrush, and as I reached the end of Brislands I could see it in the gloom perched in a small bush.
The spark is back in Four Marks, spring seems a little closer. It was great to find the Tawny Owl, great that my hunch came off, and great that Morris has now been there for five years. I would love to find his young owlets this year.
Rain and very strong winds lashed into the windows at the back of the house last night, but with the dawn came blue skies and sunshine. I imagine the rain and wind eased during the early hours as I did hear the male Tawny Owl calling while it was still dark out there. The female is probably sitting on eggs or with the young, the Tawny Owl being one of the earliest to nest. Another early breeder, the Song Thrush was singing through out the morning, competing with local Robins, but always seeming to drown them out with long clear notes that are repeated to ensure you realise it is a Song Thrush singing.
Helen and I set off for a walk around the area after deciding against a trip further a field. As we passed the village hall the cherry blossom was just coming out. This year the blossom is about three weeks earlier than it has been for the last four years.
With the recent heavy rain, any thoughts about walking through the woods were quickly dismissed and we headed out along Brislands with the plan to circle around and back along Gilbert Street and Swelling Hill.
At the Cemetery two Great Tits were trying to out do each other with their calls, they have quite a repertoire and the competition was undertaken with different calls.
Both birds were in superb breeding colours, the bright yellow contrasting with the deep shiny black belly stripe.
In the verge the Lesser Celandine were in flower, the petals though not completely open as the sunshine had not reached them.
As we walked along Brislands towards the Old Down entrance I commented on how the clear and open verges we were passing now in two months time will be exploding into a mass of vegetation. But for now it looks open, and very tidy, if not a little wet.
Goldcrests were calling in the bushes around the mobile stand just by the entrance to the wood, as I stood and waited a bird did move, but it wasn't the hoped for Goldcrest, but a Dunnock. Close inspection reveals an often overlooked bird of quite lovely markings.
As we walked down the tree lined hill I commented again about the fact that in the past here there would be thrushes, and Chaffinches and even the chance of a Brambling, but today it was very quiet with nothing moving, not even a Wren.
Out in the open once again we stopped to take in the white clouds, and beautiful blue sky, something we have not be able to do many times this winter.
I checked all the pools and puddles around Manor Farm cow sheds but there was no sign of the recent Grey Wagtail, in front of us a flock of about 100 Fieldfare and Redwing flew across and away to the fields to the south, and in the field close to the farm a single male Pheasant was walking slowly through the long grass.
Looking south a large Oak tree on the horizon showed the vulnerability these large trees have against the winter storms. With all the leaves gone the tree does not form a barrier to the storms, but where ivy grows amongst it then the tree does and can as a result be blown down.
We turned up hill towards Gilbert Street, the last time we were here the rains came, but today it was nice as we walked in the sunshine. Catkins could be seen in the hedgerows, again very early in this very different winter.
The view over towards Old Down Wood was looking splendid in the sunshine, it made you feel that maybe spring is not that far away.
Walking past the paddocks along Gilbert Street there was a large flock of Common Gulls overhead, and as we passed a field on our right a Buzzard drifted over, being chased by the gulls.
A little further along more Common Gulls flew at us from the other fields.
Coming over quite low.
In the hedgerows and the surrounding trees we could hear the chirps of the house Sparrows and of course singing Robins. At the top of one trees a male Starling was singing away, the feathers on the throat bristling as it went through the tunes.
With the fields so wet where sheep were grazing the ground has been turned over quite a bit. When I first started this blog back in 2012, the winter and early spring was very dry, and the Rooks were having difficulty finding food. Fast forward five years and the Rooks are having a field day.
Pushing their bills into the soft earth, they spread the mandibles to open up the ground in search of insects, worms and leatherjackets.
Not without some sticky problems though.
As well as the Rooks there were plenty of Magpies about, and a single Raven flew over going out of sight before I could get a photograph.
As always we scanned the trees at Andrews Lane in hope of finding a Little Owl in one of the trees, and like every time we do this we found nothing. There were two Song Thrushes feeding on the grass, one flew off, while the other continued the search for worms. There is every chance that these two could have young somewhere in a nest in the hedge.
As we walked up Swelling Hill, there seemed to be Robins singing everywhere. They find a prominent perch and sing away, sometimes with a rival very close by in another tree.
I have often said that Silver Birch are my favourite tree, and it is at this time of year for me they are at their very best. Here the tree is moving in the wind contrasting against the blue sky with many different colours.
I had hoped to find the Firecrest that sang last time we were here, but it wasn't to be, there were though plenty of Blue Tits about.
As we walked past the pond, having made it up the hill, there were seven Mallard, four males and three females all sitting on the side of the water, all asleep.
All around the pond the daffodils were in flower, again something you would normally see in early March, not four weeks earlier.
As we walked down the hill towards the school a flock of Linnets flew across the field. In the picture there are 29 of them. They flew across the field in their dipping jaunty flight.
We turned up Gradwell, where there has been a lot of hedge clearing and fencing going on. Once again the fences are topped with barbed wire, for what I can only assume is to stop people climbing over, something I am sure the majority who walk around here would not attempt even if there wasn't barbed wire. My concern though is for the deer. They can move through the fields, but will jump the fences, and I have seen where they don't judge it well, get impaled and must die a horrible death. It is only recently thatthe farmers and land owners have taken to fencing in the fields around here, I am not sure what has changed to make them want to do this.
Just before the turn into Brislands I watched two Nuthatch fly up into one of the Oak trees. They then proceeded to forage amongst the lichen on the boughs, giving some great views.
Delightful to watch as they move up and down the branches.
As well as the Nuthatches there were Blue and Great Tits, and a single Coal Tit.
The clouds were now gathering as we headed home down Brislands, the forecast was for the rain to return later this afternoon. We stopped at the junction with Lymington Bottom to watch a Feral Pigeon that had got in amongst the Dove Cope. If the Dunnock is overlooked then the Feral Pigeon is probably invisible to many. The colours in the neck feathers are wonderful reflecting green, blue and pink as they catch the light.
We walked back home after probably the best walk around the patch this year. It was of course made all the better by the weather, it was really nice to appreciate the sun and blue sky, something that always makes you feel better, the sun has been hiding away for too long!
It would seem that when ever I have the chance to get out around Four Marks the weather decides to intervene. That said despite the cold spell in the middle of the month there has been little change in the wildlife, other than more Snowdrops and Daffodils are flowering following the return to the unseasonable mild weather.
This week sees the RSPB Garden Birdwatch, and I could almost predict the species I would see now, the same usual suspects have been appearing, the four species of tit, Great, Coal, Blue and Long-tailed; Goldfinches aplenty, the Blackbirds, two Robins and the the two tiny visitors the Wren and Goldcrest. This time last year a Blackcap was a regular visitor, but there has not been any sign of one this winter, and the last time a Siskin appeared was back at the start of October.
There was though one quite spectacular visitor this morning, as I watched the feeders the birds scattered, and I was treated to a really close view of the resident Red Kite as it swooped onto some bits of food scattered on the lawn. It made two passes and each time was too quick, and too close for the camera, but I did manage to get it as it drifted away from me continuing its search for food
There is little sign of the weather changing, strong winds and more rain forecast overnight, and pretty much the case of Press: Play: Repeat through next week, which incredibly is February, where on earth did January go?
With the state of the country side and wildlife around Four Marks so depressing at the moment I have had to raise the spirits by travelling away and getting out and about in Hampshire and surrounding counties. You can catch up with what I have seen here. Hopefully normal or at least some different service will return soon.
Yesterday was wonderful, cold, blue skies and wonderful winter sunshine. It gave me the chance to really use the new camera, and I was pleased with the results as Ian and I spent a great day on the South Coast
What a difference this morning though, it had rained or maybe there had been sleet, in other parts of the country there was a dusting of snow. The temperature was just above freezing, and it was very damp and grey. The rain had stopped by mid morning, and rather than sit around Helen and I decided to go out for a walk. As we heaed along Brislands there were signs of the sleet returning.
The hedgerows were silent, not even a Robin singing, we headed down Brislands towards Manor Farm and the cow sheds.
As we passed the empty sheds a Grey Wagtail called, and then flew in front of us across the road and over onto the large puddles. I tried to get a view and the opportunity for a picture, but it was off again, this time over the sheds and out of view. It was here last year at about the same time I found my first one for the patch. Clearly they like the area around the cows.
As I searched for the wagtail I noticed in the field behind the sheds there were quite a few Fieldfare, their chuckles now able to be heard.
After giving up on the wagtail we headed down the road. I stopped to watch a Dunnock in the hedge and then became aware of the fact that the field was absolutely covered in Fieldfare. This picture shows a portion of the field and the number of birds. By taking blocks I estimated there must be at least 500, and probably more if I was honest.
As we reached the furthest point it started to rain, typical. We decided to carry on to Gilbert Street after holding up two tractors in the lane as we needed to find a passing place.
House Sparrows called from the hedgerows, and there was at least one Song Thrush singing. The rain had put a halt to any photographs.
Just before Swelling Hill starts to rise I heard a calling Firecrest in a holly bush, and could just make it out creeping through the branches. This is the first time I have heard or seen one here, and this was another welcome year tick on a very gloomy day.
There was no sign of the Mallard on the pond, and very little else as we walked quite firmlly home as the rain continued to fall. On a positive note we got some exercise, and also managed to see two birds that might have been difficult this year. On the negative note it was so disappointing the weather did not continue in the way it was yesterday. What a difference a day makes!
