Thursday 19th February

I have been to Wall Farm, on the feeders were 3 Chaffinch, 2 Great Tits, 2 Blue Tits, 2 Greenfinch and a Goldfinch. On the marsh was a Shelduck, 9 Coot, 2 Moorhen, 2 Little Grebe, 105 Teal, 15 Wigeon and a pair of Shoveler. Also recorded 4 Buzzards including 3 soaring together, a Jay, 20 Jackdaws, 2 Grey Heron, a flock of a bought 30 Fieldfare, Starlings, Woodpigeon, Rook, Carrion Crow, Blackbird, Wren, Stock Dove, Pheasant.

All for now Martin

Sunday 13th Feb - Jon Lloyd

Well, yesterday 2 Coots and today 6. It surprises me that Coots move around this much! They must fly at night. Well, you are never standing out in a field during the day and a flock of Coots fly buy. We haven't had any Coots this winter and then 1 and yesterday 2 and today 6. I suspect that these Coots are already back moving north in a very mild winter.

There are now two Little Grebes on the Wall farm wetland pools. This follows another pattern. Each Winter 1 or two birds hang around and then as the end of winter approaches new birds turn up. Last year 3 pairs fought things out well into the spring. Only one pair stayed on and attempted to breed but we didn't see any chicks. Later, as the water levels fall in mid to late summer they all disappear.

Elsewhere on the wealdmoors there are other stories of bird movement. The Wall and out on some of the neighbouring moors we get one or two Short Eared Owls over wintering. Ridiculous really. Here and there amongst the vast acres of winter wheat and hedgeless fields there still the remains one or two wet patches with water, rush and long grass. These small patches are enough to hold over wintering Short Eared Owls. Amazing! A few fragments of the past are still helping to preserve species. Having flushed an owl today later in the afternoon the same patch brings out a Barn Owl and we spent the last 20 minutes of dusk watching it hunting. What a pleasure.

There were plenty of Lapwings out on the Wealdmoors today. A flock of 500+ took flight as a male Peregrine dashed in for a low attack. During the next few minutes the Lapwing and Peregrine tried to out maneuvered each other as the hugh black smudge of Lapwing climbed higher and higher. The Peregrine tried to get above the flock but the Lapwings weren't having it and climbed higher and higher into the sky. The bird gave up. The general commotion caused by the Peregrine also put a flock of 54 Golden Plover up:

Other Birds seen today:Buzzard, Grey Heron 5, Reed Bunting, Meadow Pipit 6, Skylark 40, Treecreeper, Long Tailed Tit, Fieldfare, Collard Dove, Pied Wagtail, Tawny Owl (heard), Raven

It was interesting to see the Black Headed Gulls back today. Their usual noisey selves, washing and preening and several now with brown heads. It is usually around this time of year they start to prospect nest sites and begin warming up for the breeding season.