Lavington Plantation

A wonderful day birding on Lavington Common and the Plantation. Arrrived just as the sun came up on a clear cloudless day, with clear skies overnight the temperature had dropped a long way and the landscape was totally white. At first I thought it had been a heavy dew but with disbelief I touched the foliage of a nearby bush to find ice!. Even at this early hour the birds were on the move, several Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Yellowhammers and Meadow Pipits were high in the trees to catch the warmth of the early sun.





Meadow Pipit




Yellowhammer

As I made my way to the centre of the plantation two Roe Deer moved swiftly off the open heath into the trees. Numerous Stonechats were calling and several Woodlarks were singing. Meadow Pipits started to show in numbers as the frost retreated, soon to be followed by Siskins and at long last a trickle of Crossbills. At first two or three then sixes and by the middle of the day they were feeding noisily among the pines in flocks of thirty plus. Not quite the hundred that had been reported earlier in the week.

Woodlark

Woodlark



Siskin

Siskin




Crossbill



Crossbill

Several Buzzards put in an appearance and I failed to get a clean photograph, again! Two Sparrowhawks were chasing the Siskins accompanied by a Kestrel. Lots of action but none of their efforts appeared to be successful. Plenty of Wrens showing in the undergrowth constantly complaining. At one point I was joined by a Fox, he wandered slowly up the track and as I was up sun and down wind of him he was oblivious of my presence until he was about ten metres away when he heard the camera shutter. Without drama he just turned 180 degrees and ambled away to find a quieter spot.

Red Fox

Red Fox





Red Fox