Long Range Fieldfares

I set off today on the same route as I ran last week, when I ran through storms of starling, fieldfare and finches. But the weather was so different, it's gone from cold and frosty to warm and windy and this has clearly affected the number of birds on view.

There was barely a bird to be seen as I ran through the Grange Road fields, and the hundreds of starling occupying the trees like Christmas decorations by Hawton church were clearly paying their devotions as well.

A sharp shower did very little to enliven my mood, especially when I decided to hide my camera case under my gilet to make me resemble a pregnant Elephant Man. Luckily the rain didn't last for long, and when I reached the fieldfare field along the Hawton-Farndon road, I was delighted to be able to 1) get my camera out and 2) realise the batteries weren't flat.

Sadly the fieldfares were rather far away, and my shots are thus not great but I'm still glad to have captured the bird for the first time.. Interestingly, there seemed to be a few starling mixed in with them, trundling around feeding off the land.

As I watched, a huge flock of pigeons swept by above, joining hundreds more in the stand of trees where I've seen starling gather before. They then flapped down to the arable field on the other side of the stand, to wreak havoc on the farmers young crop.

The run ended up being a strong 8 miles, but it wasn't good birding weather I think. Still, I'm glad to have snapped my first fieldfares.

Even if they are only "record shots".

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 27.01.16

The Last Signs and Sounds of 2013

December 31st. A day of relaxing, of preparing oneself for the rigours of the night ahead.

I may not be any kind of expert in bird calls, but I've become quite attuned to knowing when a sound in the garden isn't normal. I had such a moment yesterday, when as I lay on the sofa reading, I heard an unfamiliar double whistle coming from the bare sycamore tree outside.

I looked out, and the brilliant pink breast of a bullfinch was perched on a windswept branch. Bullfinches are not regular visitors to the garden, and I was pretty darn chuffed to see it; the neighbours have just started putting out their winter feeders and I suppose this is probably what tempted it into quite a cat strewn locality for a shy bird.

But the bullfinch wasn't the only visitor I had. When I went outside, there was my endlessly singing local robin, a wren, a squadron of long tailed tits making their way through the trees hunting for spiders, and up above my head another unusual visitor; the soft grey belly and black head of a blackcap.

A little later, I was out running, the back way up the hill to Coddington, and as I made my way to the top of the hill, the setting sun burst out as a weather front went over, and illuminated everything with yet another glorious golden glow, a light I have been fortunate enough to witness many times this winter. And in it, redwings were to be seen in the hedges along the Sleaford Road back to Beacon Hill.

I still haven't decided which is the more attractive bird, the redwing or the fieldfare. For now, I will call it an honourable draw.

Copyright Cream Crackered Nature 01.01.14

Fieldfares are about and so am I

Set out just after 830am - note to self, get out of the house pre 8am to get real praise from yourself - for a ten k walk to take in the air and see how easy or hard a ten k run will be this afternoon. Some hard ice about, mixed with slushy and clear patches. Cycle track looks good though.

London Road Lake is most covered with what looks like a rather porridgey ice, and Clay Lane has an attractive mess of sludgy half frozen mud like a dessert.

It was on the railway bridge I first watched a pair of fieldfares fly over, white undersides with a sort of russet triangular patch, like a sort of avian superbird logo. These were the first I'd conclusively seen in town this winter, I'm surprised I haven't seen big flocks of them or redwing, the cold tends to drive them into town.

I followed Clay Lane along and then up to Beacon Hil, along the path where the snow is still abundant and unsullied white. A few Goldfinch and possibly Greenfinch - an uncommon sight in town these days - were in the Hawthorns. I kept walking, relishing the cold air about my face, although not my raw and bloodied hands.

On Beacon Hill, the oilseed rape field was being occupied by that same flock of ground loving finches that I saw before, but alas too far away to get a good look, about 50 of them. Still inclined to think they are Brambling.

Another two fieldfares flew over near Timico, but it was in a grubby car yard car park that I had a really good view of one. Struggling with a frozen looking hip berry, a fieldfare was trotting about amidst the muddy tire tracks and patches of dirty slush. On the ground, it is the slate grey head and long slate grey rump that is the dominant feature, and this fellow was not afraid to let me watch him for a few minutes, shoving his hard found berry about, driven into town for food and into the eyes of towny wildlife lovers like myself.