Crossbills

A really satisfying day's birding, lots of new year ticking and some scarcer birds to boot. Martin and I started out at the "usual tree" on Stapleash Farm for the Little Owl. As we parked opposite the tree two birds hopped for cover, we found a definite in the usual place, but not the possible second bird. Feeling happy we made a short journey down the road. We parked next to the ride just down from Monkton Farm and scanned the high trees for Hawfinches using just binoculars. Two candidates right at the top had me almost dashing for the scope, finally the pulse slowed down as with the aid of more magnification it became apparent they were in fact Greenfinches. We would have stayed in the vicinity but for  a shoot getting underway, never have the lanes been so full of 4x4s.

Next port of call was Ambersham Common to try to relocate the Dartford Warbler that Martin had photographed a few weeks ago. Things remained quiet until the sun finally broke through the grey cloud, then slowly the tit flocks became mobile. I was surprised by how many Coal Tits were present. Then at last a fleeting fly past of an ummistakable bird, a male Dartford. In trying to relocate the bird we moved to give better light and gain some cover under a pine tree. Patiently waiting I became aware of a familiar crunching sound and the sight of bits of wood falling from the tree, a glance upward confirmed it, Crossbill. A large female cracking cones, unfortunately in the shade. However, it was apparent from the noise that there were other birds present and we located a more obliging juvenile male willing to pose for the camera. When the birds finally flew off we were surprised to count a total of seven.  Having been stood at our present location for more than an hour it was an added bonus that, as we left, we almost trod on a Woodcock.

The large female that wouldn't come into the light



A much more obliging juvenile bird

There's a seed in here somewhere...



.....told you so....

.... better to take the whole lot.

The Dartford didn't show again so we left for Lavington Plantation. Somewhere near Ambersham Polo ground we came across a large finch flock occupying several trees adjacent to the road. There must have been at least two hundred birds present. mainly Chaffinches and Goldfinches, but I managed to positively identify one Greenfinch and three Bramblings. We parked up but by the time we had set up the cameras the birds had trickled away over the fields, it wasn't obvious why they had gathered in such numbers nor could we identify what they may have been feeding on, but to the south of the road were two stubble fields where the straw had been left. Worth a revisit soon.

Lavington Plantation was a big disappointment, eerily quiet, in fact the only bird we saw clearly was a single Goldcrest. A short visit to Burton Mill pond added Pochard and Tufted Ducks to the list, it was quiet here too, a definite lack of smaller birds all too evident. On the way home we made a detour, through Wepham and Burpham, to the Burgh hoping for a Bewick's Swan to add to the day's tally, another dip but at least we met up with Dorian and Dave who kindly pointed out several Red Kites.

So, in a good day's birding the photographs were few and far between but the list of ticks finished up at a healthy 42