20th March - And If You Threw a Party

Well the sunshine of mid week didn't last, it became cloudy and overcast on Friday and this has persisted into the weekend, the upbeat bit though is that it has stayed relatively dry, there was some early morning drizzle yesterday and today.

The weather is following the pattern establish for the last four years, mild and wet winters, then once spring is on the horizon the weather turns cold and dry blocking any possibility of spring becoming established, despite the fact that the media have been making money out of early flowers and insects.

There was a report of a Mute Swan from a reliable source being seen on Saturday morning flying across the Shrave just past Telegraph Lane

It was the opportunity for my first lengthy walk of the year, and I headed along Brislands where a Goldcrest was singing in the holly tree, and a Wren blasted out its song for the power line above the road.

In the first field a Green Woodpecker was feeding amongst the grass but flew as I tried to get a photo.  In the next a Jay was searching through the grass and plastic bags.

I am not sure where the bags have come form, but the whole field is full of them, this though does not seem to distract the Redwing, and once again there was a large flock feeding here.  As I peered through the bushes they flew across to the far side of the field, into the hedge and up into the trees.

As I watched they continued to stream from the field, this was the most I had seen here this year, and estimated there to be at least 200.  They seem to just appear from nowhere, and you could hear their calls everywhere.

From Gradwell, I crossed into Old Down Wood.  The field was being prepared and then drilled with seed and there was a following of gulls behind the tractor.  As I watched an adult Mediterranean Gull appeared, all white and with a shocking black hood, then it dropped down.  I waited but it never re-appeared, there were Black-headed and Common Gulls but they too seemed to hide behind the slope.  This was a good find, and re-energised me as I walked into the wood.

I checked for the owl, but with no luck, but in the tree where it should have been I was entertained by a Goldcrest, singing and at the same time searching for insects in the spruce leaves.

With Siskins still coming to the garden I hoped that maybe there would be some interesting flocks in the larch trees, but I couldn't find anything.  I made my way around to the perimeter, and then down towards the West End of the wood.  Here the Bluebells are very well developed, and I actually found the first Bluebell flowers of the season.

I was also pleased to see the row of Daffodils beneath the big Beech tree.

The path winds through the Hazel trees and the green shoots of more Bluebells.  There were several half opened petals, but this little clump was the most developed.

From the wood I headed down through the paddocks, and by the edge of the field in the shelter and safety of the hedge the Rabbits fed on the grass.

From the paddocks I walked up Andrews Lane.  After scanning the fields and finding nothing I walked on with a Buzzard calling above me as it circled above the trees disturbing the Woodpigeon.

As I walked up the lane several Song Thrush would burst from the hedgerow with that short whistle of alarm.  One perched up in the Oak tree and watched me as I headed up the hill.

Once past the cottage the path has been flattened out making it a little easier to navigate, but once you reach the top the gully returns.

The field was empty, I had hoped for lambs but there was no sign of any sheep at all.  In the small copse another Goldcrest sang from the apple trees while foraging the lichen.  I walked from there to Lye Way Lane, a pair of Bullfinch piped away from the bushes, and I saw the male fly off.  The female though continued to tear apart the leaf shoots of the Hawthorn, but did so from the middle of the bush making it very difficult to see her, let alone photograph her.

As I scanned across the field I could hear Skylarks singing, and managed to find one that was relatively close.  Its always uplifting to hear the song of the Skylark, even if it is a grey overcast day.

At first the fields looked empty, but as I walked to the far end I could see movement on the grass, and it turned out there were many Fieldfare feeding on the close cropped field, and perched in the hedge alongside the field.

As I watched the Fieldfare feeding with Starlings a large gull drifted over, a Lesser Black-backed Gull, it was nice to get some acceptable pictures of what is a regular visitor to the fields around here at this time of year.

The upper parts a slaty grey, and not the dark grey of the larger Great Black-backed Gull, as it flew over i could also see the yellow legs.

This was a adult bird, and was joined by another, and strangely a Herring Gull, that then drifted off while the Lessers seemed to like the barns and flew around them dropping onto the roof and out of sight.

The Fieldfare continued to feed on the grass with the Starlings.

Again it was a large flock, again something that is regular in the fields here at this time of year.  I estimated there to be about 150.

I walked back to Lye Way road, and through the farm.  A Buzzard sat in one of the trees at the edge of the field, and was later seen flying low over the thrushes and scattering them everywhere.

Yet another Goldcrest sang from a Holly hedge alongside the road, and while it never really appeared from within the hedge it did show in some of the gaps.

Such a tiny little gem.

As I passed the farm barns I could see the two Lesser Black-backed Gulls on the roof.

I could still see the Fieldfare, and now there were two Buzzards in the close vicinity.  A familiar "gronk" behind me signaled the arrival of a Raven and it flew away from low across the field.

At the far side of the field a huge ball of birds grouped together appeared above the trees and at first I though I was lucky to find Golden Plover, but then I could see that they were grey, definitely not plover, and definitely the most numerous bird in the area, the Woodpigeon.

I scanned to see what had spooked them, but there was nothing obvious.  I watched as they settled down and dropped into the tops of the surrounding trees.

Heading down Lye Way I continued to scan the fields, it seems that these have been left for fallow this year, and were full of weed which hopefully would flower and leave seeds, but I know not to get too excited about this idea.

A Kestrel was using the over head wires as a perch, looking down into the field.  From the markings it looks like this is the bird I saw on Thursday evening.

I walked down Kitwood road with the field being seeded on my left hand side.  The tractors were still working but at the far side of the field and out of sight.  On the field there was a large flock of Rooks and Woodpigeon picking there way through the soil.  Closer in were a few Meadow Pipits and a pair of Mistle Thrushes.

At the bottom of the road, I turned up Gradwell, and then down Brislands.  The fields now were empty, and there was little else of interest as I made my way home.  The walk had been a case of "Gold and Gulls", so no apologies for the title of this post!!!

17th March - Into The Light Of The Dark Black Night

It has been a strange week for me, ill on Monday while the sun shone all day in a clear blue sky, travel to Munich and experience 5 inches of snow which was gone the following day and replaced by clear skies and warm sunshine.  When I finally got home this evening the sun was still out and there would be enough daylight for an even walk, so Helen and I set off along Lymington Bottom.

For once we continued on past the Brislands turn, and a little further on were rewarded with views of a male Kestrel obviously intently watch the rough grass below him, the sun bringing out the richness in the ruddy brown feathers of his back.

I tried to get a better view, but as I did so he turned away from me, and all I could see was his back as he looked down at the ground, then finally he turned to just keep an eye on me.  What a gorgeous bird!

We carried on to the bottom of the road, and at the school decided to take Hawthorn Road, and then come around by Kitwood.  There were several Redwing feeding on the school playing fields, but as always seems to be the way they sensed immediately my presence and I was left with this familiar view.

There was though a Song Thrush stalking a meal in the grass close by, and it was much more accommodating.

The fields on either side of us were full of Woodpigeons, but occasionally there would be a Fieldfare and Redwing fly over and disappear into the trees.  

The trees on the edge of the plantation where the turn into Kitwood Lane takes place have been thinned out considerably, and the area is quite open.  However there has not been any work further on, and the dense scrub of the hawthorns and hazel remain.

At the edge of the plantation the hazels lining the footpath leading down the hill were a glow from the evening sunshine.

The setting sun was constantly changing the scene and as we approached Kitwood farm the lane was lit up like gold as the sun filtered through the trees.

As we passed through the farm a gas gun went off, and away across the trees a huge flock of Woodpigeon suddenly appeared in the sky and headed our way.

We were walking into the sun, and everywhere you looked it was highlighting the scene.  In this case the power lines appear to be lit up like a string of Christmas lights and the light picks out the edge of the cable.

We walked on to the pond, where I had a quick look to see if there was yet any sign of the toads spawning.  All I could find though was the frog spawn I had seen last Sunday.  The only visible occupants of the pond though were the pair of Mallard that had drifted into the centre when we arrived. 

From the pond we decided to go through the wood, and then head back home along Brislands.  As we walked through the wood there were several Robins singing and a distant Song Thrush.  

As I feared with there not being any rain through the week many of the puddles and muddy patches were now drying out, this meant that the frog spawn that had been laid in them were also drying up.

The woods were still quite cold and lifeless still, with no sign of any leaf development.  Celandines could be seen, and also the shoots of the Bluebells, but it still felt as if the wood was in the grip of winter.

The most dominant feature though was the setting sun, a vast red ball low in the sky.  As we made our way through the wood the scene changes from the sun burning through the dark, cold and grey trees.

As we came out into the open, the sun could be seen across the fields, partially lighting the sky above it but dominating the view itself.

A little further and we came out of the woods and the sun was still the centre of attraction as it made its way down beyond Ropley and Winchester.

And as it sank in the sky the ball became a deeper red.

With the setting sun on our backs we headed down Brislands.  Closer to the houses you could hear the songs of birds as they took one last chance to announce their territories, or to celebrate the fact that they now had a nest. 

The Redwing were also busy, flying around looking for roost sites for the night.  One flew in and gave an unmistakeable pose at the top of one of the Beech trees.

As approached home a Blackbird was singing high at the top of a leylandii.

Helen remarked that the sound of the birds singing late into the evening in early spring is something that makes you feel really good, a sign that maybe spring is here.  We headed home with the Blackbird behind settling in to sing into the dead of night.

13th March - Win or Lose, Sink or Swim

It was misty and overcast in the morning, and quite cold.  We spent the day up in Oxford, but when we got back there was some time and the sun was out and it felt quite warm.  I walked down Brislands with plenty of Lesser Celandines in flower on the verge, and as I was admiring them a butterfly flew past, I watched it as it flew away from me and could see it was a Small Tortoiseshell, spring doesn't seem to far away now.

As well as the butterfly further evidence was send with a Greenfinch in display flight around the hawthorn bushes.  I turned into Gradwell, and then across the field into Old Down.  A Song Thrush sang away in the distance and as I walked into the wood there were several Robins singing.  The Larches were beginning to leaf, and in he late sunshine the footpath was lit up.

A little further on a Coal Tit was in full song from the top of a Beech Tree, the lack of leaves making it easy to find.

I walked to the crossroads where there were several large puddles, and every single one was full of frog spawn, I don't think I have ever seen so much in the wood before.

I walked around towards Old Down cottage, and stopped to check the large pool on the footpath.  This has always been a pool that has quite a bit of spawn, and today it was like every other pool of water, full.

Some of the pools were quite small and must run the risk of drying out, especially over the next few weeks as the forecast is for it to remain dry.

As I made my way back to the main path a Nuthatch called above me as it foraged amongst the lichen on the branches.

I made my way towards the exit, and by the perimeter path the Bluebell shoots looked to be very well developed, if it warms up we may have flowers for Easter.

At the pond a Buzzard was annoying the smaller birds, and alarm calls rang out.  A small bird flew from the top of a tree, and then mouse like crawled around the branches.  It was difficult to pick out and I only managed a record shot of my first treecreeper of the year.

I was hoping to find toad spawn in the pond after seeing all the frog spawn, but there was no sign at all.  There was some frog spawn, and a few frogs splashing in the shallow water.

The Mallard pair were standing in the shallow water, enjoying the evening sunshine.

I walked down the lane towards Kitwood.  The light was now wonderful, all golden and soft, and it lit up a Goldfinch at the top of the trees.

There were three Goldfinch in the tree, plus a male Greenfinch and a Collared Dove that was being pursued by another along the branch.

Leaving the birds in the tree I headed back along the lane when a Great Tit sat on one of the branches from the hedge again in the wonderful light.

I headed down towards the school, the hedgerow being turned golden by the low sunshine.  The familiar piping call of a Bullfinch alerted me to movement in the hedge.  There were two females and a single male, that managed to keep partially hidden.

As I waited for the Bullfinches to appear I noticed movement in a tree, at first I thought it was a Treecreeper then a familiar pose revealed it to be another Nuthatch.

I headed down to hill, and noticed shapes in the field.  A closer look revealled the shapes to be Red-legged Partridges.  I counted nine together, but with another pair closer to the road there were eleven.

Along Gradwell the field was full of about 30 Redwing, however they seem to know exactly when I am looking to take a photograph because they upped and flew away.  One or two though remained in the sunshine.

The calls of Jackdaws came from the chimney pots on the cottages, and several birds seemed to be arguing over the pots for nest sites, or maybe just to find a warm place to roost tonight.  This one was inside the pot and peered out at me.

The sun was now almost set, and I made my way back home, as I passed the recreation ground a pair of Mistle Thrushes flew over calling.

The first butterfly of the year and two year ticks made it a worthwhile walk this afternoon.  Slowly the new season is coming, and with it the hope and anticipation of something special.

8th March - Like I've Known Them All My Life

Yesterday evening it was cold but clear blue sky and a lovely blue Sky.  Yesterday when we went for a run we had a wonderful view of a Sparrowhawk taking an unfortunate Starling, but of course no camera.  Today its overcast with drizzle in the air, an despite this I decided to go out, and took the same route as last night in the hope that just maybe it would do it again, but of course it didn't.  

As I walked the back lane up towards the centre of the village I could hear the very quiet song of a Blackbird.  It was half hearted and came from the middle of a tree lacking the forcefullness and wonderful full notes normally associated with a Blackbird in song.

The drizzle in the air became a more persistent rain, the sky and everything around me assuming a monochrome set.  I headed down towards Blackberry Lane, and around me the Starlings were flying about calling to each other and settling in the tree tops, contrasting black against the grey sky, almost like a black and white picture.

At the footpath down towards Alton Lane a Crow called from the top of a tree, this time a larger black and white bird, a theme was developing.

As I came down the footpath between Blackberry and Alton Lane there was a flock of approximately 20 Redwing feeding in the paddock where the ground had been turned over by the horses.

One of the other reasons for coming this way was to check on the Rookery along Alton Lane.  Lats year there were around 50 nests, and the indications were that there may be quite a few more this year.

As I approached the colony I could hear the Rooks calling but also there were plenty of Jackdaws about.  Rooks nest quite early to take advantage of the soft ground in the fields.  During winter Jackdaws and Rooks form huge roosts in the woods around Chawton Park, and it is as if the Jackdaws can't be parted from their winter night fellows.  The Jackdaws seem to hang about with the Rooks despite the fact that the Rooks are now nesting.  You could see the Jackdaws on the edge of the branches while the Rooks were staying close to the nests.

While some of the Rooks were clearly sitting on the nests and their partners close by in attention, some of them were still reinforcing their bonds.

The nest is a large bundle of twigs, many do remain from last year but with the storms of the winter I can imagine there has been much repairing going on.  Birds can be seen flying around with twigs in their beaks even once eggs have been laid.  In many case the twigs are broken off the tree itself though as many are likely to be stolen from nearby nests as are collected from trees.

Eggs are usually 3–5 in number, can appear by the end of February or early March and are incubated for 16–18 days. Both adults feed the young, which are fledged by the 32nd or 33rd day.

Once fledged the juvenile is superficially more similar to the crow because it lacks the bare patch at the base of the bill, but it has a thinner bill and loses the facial feathers after about six months. 

There was plenty of activity around the whole colony, and I attempted to count the number of nests, I am not convinced this is the complete total, but I managed to locate 57 nests which is in excess of the number counted last year when the two colonies along Alton Lane decided to combine.

The rain now was becoming a lot heavier and I decided it was time to leave the Rooks who were now sitting high in the trees alongside their nests.

I made my way home with Jackdaws heading north again a black and white image in the grey and miserable sky.

A short walk, brought to a quick conclusion by the change in weather.  I did though get the chance to catch up with the Rooks always a feature of the early March skies as they wheel around the their nests in the top of the trees calling and filling the air with a scattered black and white display.