Friday 6th March - Winter Shrike

Went for a walk on Iping Common this morning. A cool wind and grey skies suggested Winter isn't giving up easily. The Great Grey Shrike which has been on the common all Winter showed again on the walk . Each time (this had been my third visit this winter) the view has improved, from fleeting, to distant, to this time when it was slightly nearer and more co-operative even though the wind and grey skies made a good photo elusive - If it's still there in a month I might be able to stroke it .

A brief view of a Dartford Warbler and Stonechat, a singing Yellowhammer and the distant calls of Woodlark were the only other activity.

The Iping Great Grey Shrike

.... and off again

Cows employed to graze the heathland at Stedham



Tuesday 3rd March - Garden Jewel

After dropping Hannah at school I called in at Combe Pond on the way home - a small woodland fishing lake - A couple of Mallard, Coot and Mandarin Duck were on the pond and a large flock of Lesser Redpoll and Siskin in the Alders with Marsh Tit and Treecreeper but little else.

A cold bite to the wind with increasing cloud cover looked as if it might turn wet but when I arrived home but with a few blue patches appearing in the sky I had a coffee outside and managed 2 Goshawk sightings, 6 Common Buzzard, 2 Kestrel and 2 Sparrowhawk and a Peregrine, which flew South. The Firecrest that I heard the other day was singing again, although seemed well tucked away in a Yew which is behind a Holly Screen in the Gully, but with a bit of patience it momentarily popped out, continuing it's song, so for once I got a picture of the whole bird rather than just a blurred wing.

Firecrest in the Garden