Grange Bottom and Seven Rides

Friday 5th April

Today's walk was a copy of one I did with Paula and my keep fit class last Thursday.  It started up the Barkway Road, into Grange Bottom, into the woods beyond, out towards Reed, then turning right towards the A10, across the field to the Icknield Walk trail (Royston to Therfield path), and back via the Heath.

Straight away, on entering the woods we heard and saw a Greater Spotted Woodpecker, drumming on the tree trunks.  Emerging onto the fields and looking towards the B1039, we saw a Red Kite standing on and eating some carrion.  It fed for a while and then rose and circled around.  Turning right along the path at the Newsells Park Stud, a Green Woodpecker called and landed amongst some Fieldfares and Redwings on the ground.

After crossing the A10 we were pleased to see quite a few Hares in the fields, dashing about, their long ears giving them away.  When hunkered down in the stubble it was hard to see them at all.  Along the Therfield path a huge flock of mixed Fieldfares and Redwings flew overhead, calling to each other.

Church Hill

Wednesday 3rd April
The sun came out today so we decided to go for a walk across Therfield Heath to Church Hill to see if there are any Pasque Flowers out.  Because Easter was early this year and because of the cold, we didn't expect to see any.  But we sat down on top of the hill and looked around with binoculars, and spotted something purple.  On investigating, it was a lone Pasque Flower, fully open, as close to the ground as it could be, with no visible leaves.

We found 3 further flowers which were not open, so will come back next week when, hopefully, the weather will be warmer.  The walk back  was facing East, with the strong wind right in our faces - not nice!

On the golf course there was snow lurking in the sand bunkers and also in the corner of a tee-off spot where the wind has kept the temperature down at freezing.  We did see two Kestrels, but no Sky Larks today.

Hen Harrier

Tuesday 2nd April

On our way home from Saffron Walden we spotted this wonderful, rare bird - the Hen Harrier.  It was flying low over the cold fields to the north of the B1039 between Barley and Royston, travelling approximately towards Fowlmere (where one has been roosting) - it was about 4.30pm.  The male bird has grey plumage with black wing-tips; the female is brown with distinctive white upper-tail coverts - the ring tail.

Coldest March on record

The whole of March has been very cold with snow and cold winds.  Consequently it appears that the birds in our garden have put nesting on hold and are still coming to the feeders and bird table in large numbers. We are seeing a Red Kite every day now, flying around over the house, garden and farm, Rosemary has seen 3 together.

Another game bird to visit us is this Red-legged Partridge, an introduced species to Britain.  It was very wary, keeping its bright red eye on me behind the curtain as I tried to take the photo, and making quick dashes into the undergrowth when spooked.  Its legs do not look very red, perhaps it's the cold weather!

The native Grey Partridge, badly in decline, is being encouraged on local farmland by our wildlife-friendly farmer, and can occasionally be seen out in the fields.

Walk around Nuthampstead

Sunday 17th March
Another cold, muddy walk, with little or no bird life to talk of.  Good lunch at The Woodman at the end.

Nesting Activity

The most obvious signs of nesting in our garden are visits by the Great Tits and Blue Tits to the nesting boxes.  The Blue Tits have been looking in and entering their usual box, on the right side of the garden.  We can see that the Great Tits have started building their nest as it is in the camera nest box on the left side.  It has a layer of moss and a few feathers on top - still work to do to finish it off.  Here's a Blue Tit getting a drink from the cascade, and a Great Tit on the Smoke Bush.

February's Feathered Friends

Here's a catch-up of the bird activity in our garden in February, including many photos taken by David.  There was snow around 10th Feb and again from 22nd, and the temperatures mainly very cold.

First mention is of a bird never seen in our garden before - the Reed Bunting.  We've had a few females (photo) and one male, whose head feathers are getting darker as the month progresses.

Yellowhammers have come in too - newcomers again, and the linnets continue to fly around and land in the trees in large numbers (50) (see photo), with a dozen or so coming to drink from our top pond.

The Goldfinches have been feeding on the teasels (5 in this photo) as well as the feeders, 15 at one sighting.

There is at least one male Blackcap (photo, with black cap) and two females (with brown caps) overwintering.  They are happy on the feeders and the bird table.  We're looking forward to hearing their beautiful song in the spring.

Sweet little Long Tailed Tits have been visiting.  Our favourites, with their delicate pink, white & black plumage.

The 3 Jays have been seen from time to time, one of them peeping out of the conifer in this photo.

The local family of Pheasants pace up and down, the male often looking like he can't remember how to get out of the garden.  2 males & 4 females seen.  Also a pair of Red-legged Partridges have visited.

And the Blackbirds are still here in big numbers.

Other birds seen in the garden in February were: House Sparrows, Hedgesparrows, Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Robins, Starlings, Magpies, Collared Doves and Wood Pigeons.



House Sparrow

Hedgesparrow

Chaffinch

Greenfinch

Robin

Starling

Collared Dove

Thanks for the photos, David.