BIRDWATCH

The end of the year saw little activity with regards to the bird watching. A few groups of FIELDFARES arrived but not in the numbers we expect. Even the communal flocking by smaller birds was sparse. A change of environment sometimes brings results.

We spent the New Year in a very wet Yorkshire. Fortunately a pair of Blackcaps were regular feeders in our friends garden and also a Nuthatch was a welcome visitor. Blackcaps are regarded as summer visitors but many are now over wintering, probably to take advantage of the variety of commercially produced bird food available. The female has a russet brown cap in contrast to the sooty black cap of the male.

Cathy tells me of the Blackcaps in her garden in our village, so look out this winter.

A recent holiday in the Canneries did not produce anything exciting. A brief glimpse of a Hoopoe, a solitary curlew and a few bedraggled Dunlins were all we saw.

Back home a Green Woodpecker greeted us on the lawn and numerous Pheasants flew off into the woods. Small parties of Long-tailed tits appeared unexpectedly and moved on quickly to other areas, and the Kites are a welcome sight!

I hope to have more to report in the Spring. Please phone me on 709083 if you see anything of interest.

ALL THE BEST FOR 2012.

"ROAMER"