Saturday 28 January 2012

Down the Local Patch (North Duffield)

Had a couple of longish dog walks around the farmland to the south of North Duffield today, one in the cold frosty sunny morning and one in the cold yet nice and sunny late afternoon.

The highlight from the morning walk was a flock of 13 Bullfinch, mainly female/1st winter birds but there was a couple of cracking males in with them too. There was also a few Fieldfare and Redwing flying about and a flock of 20+ Tree Sparrow and a dozen Chaffinch sat out in the open along the edge of some scrub with a couple of Linnet overflying. Several Robin were noted in full song - as too were Blackbird. A Sparrowhawk flew over the garden as I got home flushing a decent flock of Greenfinch and Goldfinch.


Bullfinch Photo Richard Hampshire

The late afternoon walk was very enjoyable, I caught up with the same flock of Bullfinch again, as well as finding another 3/4 others too. I walked a path I'd not done for a few months and was pleased to find a flock of 40+ Yellowhammer, 10+ Reed Bunting and several Tree Sparrow feeding in a weedy headland. A flock of Long-tailed, Blue and Great Tits moved along a hedge, a covey of 6 Grey Partridge burst up as a Buzzard glided through heading off to roost. A couple of Song and Mistle Thrush were also found. Highlight however was the Barn Owl that gave great views whilst it hunted right infront of me. It didn't take long for it to catch its tea - a vole of some sort.

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