Monday 25th January - A flurry with falcons

 A cold frosty day on Friday that was bright and sunny and just perfect for a walk on Black Down which was amazing for the views but not surprisingly quiet for birds. During lockdown it has become even more popular as a local exercise domain especially for those with dogs, so is not without a high level of disturbance if you're there just for the wildlife. In the 2 hour walk with Adie my only bird sighting was a single Coal Tit, but despite hearing a Woodlark calling it remained unseen. No sight or sound of any Crossbills.

On Saturday night I stayed up looking through the patio doors to the garden, the outside lights were on but there was also bright moonlight and I had great views of a Badger which came to the logs on the patio were there were a few nuts it seemed to like, a Fox was also inquisitive but kept a distance as did a neighbour's domestic Cat !.

Sunday we had our first snow of the Winter for around 4 hours in the morning and it was heavy for a couple of hours, leaving a covering which lasted into the afternoon. A slushy walk to the east of the village to Lower House Farm where the Linnets were still in the Kale and a Woodlark was calling and this time seen as it flew over. The garden was full of birds around the feeders with the highest count of Chaffinches I've had with up to 40 birds, in with them 5 Brambling, 15 Goldfinch, 5 Greenfinch, 4 Lesser Redpoll and 3 Siskin. 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers and the Green Woodpecker appeared. A Grey Heron had a look at the (mostly frozen)  pond. Around mid-afternoon, Woodpigeons irrupted from the trees and I was expecting to see a Goshawk harassing them but it was a Peregrine that glided through. I think this is the same bird that has been seen occasionally since just before Christmas. A Kestrel was seen which was falcon no. 2 they are increasingly uncommon here, but I saw one yesterday just down the road so guessing this was the same bird. The biggest surprise came when a small falcon came over the trees at pace, shot low over the fields and up and through the trees and beyond, a Merlin !. Not the longest view but enough to confirm . It is only the second time I've seen one here. Perhaps not a huge surprise given the number of passerines around. 3 falcon species in one day here is pretty good. I also added Sparrowhawk and Red Kite so it turned into a good day for raptor sightings.

Snow over the veggie patch

Pheasant

At the back of the garden Brambling, Chaffinch, Blackbird, Starling

Brambling, Chaffinch, Goldfinch

Bramblings and Dunnock

Brambling and Greenfinch

Brambling

Stock Dove

Pied Wagtail

Greenfinch

Robin

Starlings

Reeds in the pond

Appropriately Snowdrops are out