Sunday 1st.February 2009

Had a walk out with Carol this morning , and the only thing of interest found were two Redwings on the football pitch in the local park .

So after lunch , and between snow showers , I took myself off to Hayes Farm . As soon as I got out of the car , I thought about getting back in and going home . The wind was bitter and with not many trees to break it , it cut right through you . Anyway , I set off over the stile and onto the farm . The Oak at the stile held a good sized flock of Starlings and the trees behind the houses held a couple of dozen Woodpigeon , but not a sign of the Redwing flock or the mixed Finch flock . I found t 3 Greenfinch in the scrub behind the log piles , but even the Chickens were absent from the manure pile , where they have been on every visit . In the field used as a car park on Boot Sale days , about 40/50 Woodpigeon were feeding on the ground and I also had a pair of Pied Wagtails fly over , battling against the strong wind . In the top corner of the field , I found a flock of about 15 Redwings and as I approached , they flew into adjacent trees . I attempted to get closer , but as I got within camera range , a 'seep-seep' , sent them all scattering . I assumed the alarm call was for me , but from behind me , and close on their tails came a Sparrowhawk at about head height . It appeared the Redwings had too good a start and the Sparrowhawk continued at low level along the hedgeline .

I made my way to the Trout Fishery , which was really exposed with wind in today's direction , to find 3 people fly fishing . The residents seemed very similar to last time , with the exception of

just one Little Grebe , and the addition of one female Tufted Duck . But I must admit , that from a distance , I thought at first she was something else with that white patch above her bill . The initial excitement diminished when the wind blew her tuft over her head , and I was sure that it wasn't something special .

By now , even with gloves on , my hands were frozen , so headed back to the car a differnt way . Almost immediately , I found the large flock of Redwing , numbering about 40/50 feeding on the ground in one of the horse paddocks . By now I was having difficulty operating the camera , but did manage to get a few closer shots .

Feeding alongside the Redwings , were a flock of 12/15 Linnets . I tried hard to get a shot of them , but it wasn't to be , they were more flighty than the Redwings , and caused them to move off frequently . Another large flock of Woodpigeon was found on my way back to the car , but the Chaffinch/Goldfinch mixed flock evaded me .

By the time I reached the car , another snow shower was about to start , a warm cup of tea was calling .