DECEMBER
Last report of the year ... time seems to go faster as the years move on. However, there is always a silver lining .. the rise of the Turdus (Thrush) family of birds .. namely Turdus philomelos .. the now scarce Song Thrush. From the back door, walking and cycling .. the wonderful sound of this bird singing his heart out every morning and late afternoons before going to roost; every day to date in December. So uplifting and welcome. Sadly a bit of a wimp and often chased off by the local Blackbirds. Listen out for the sweet repeated notes sung at the very top of the trees. As I write he has managed a 2 hour stretch without a break!
As referenced in last month's notes .. unless you are near the coast or visiting local flooded nature reserves .. there is not an abundance of natural world interest this month. The garden feeders are being ravaged every day by the usual suspects .. Blue and Great Tits, Blackbirds, Collared Doves and Robins. Followed by the beautifully marked female Great Spotted Woodpecker; she clamped on to the peanut holder within 30 minutes of me fixing it up for the first time since the end of March .. how do they know?? Dunnocks and Wood Pigeons search on the ground below as they are not adapted to "cling on" feeding. In the list above I have not included the wonderful Long-tailed Tits .. hopefully not a worrying omission .. see my next paragraph.
We are not near the coast but the local reserves are the most easily accessed .. two of which I visited this month .. each only a short drive from the village. These are where the action is! Blackbourne Valley is relatively new and still a re-wilding reserve after years of arable farming on the land. It is not easy to find and previously some 2 years ago I did find a way in using a standard public footpath sign close to the village of Norton ... but obviously not the official entrance. This time I found the correct entrance with parking space closer to the village of Tostock. The first thing to say is never go in Winter without wearing wellingtons!! I did and even with walking boots I got wet feet. The hazard is in the title "Valley". The " Valley" part floods in Winter and is often 12-14 inches deep in places. I wanted to map out the whole reserve in my mind and did not stick to the signage. QED .. boots full of water and soaking socks. All this chaos can be eliminated if you simply follow the BLUE ARROW marked post signs which skirt around the wetter areas and keeps you on the higher ground. I have noted for the future!! Also the boardwalk Norton Village end is a must where I picked up the uniquely loud call of Cetti's Warbler .. crazy for December. Lots of Redwings and Woodpeckers and also flocks of Long-tailed Tits . It has been a mild weather year and they have obviously found adequate feeding opportunities in the wider countryside .. we like to think that the birds enjoy our gardens. Some genuinely do but others only come to the feeders when sustenance is not on offer in the woods and fields. I am sure that this reserve will be full of bird life in the coming Spring. A last word of caution .. there are no seats anywhere on the reserve .. I take an ultra light shooting stick which hooks on to the rucksack strap.
As it was on my route home I called in at Micklemere via the entrance opposite the Pakenham Mill House. You can sit comfortably in the hide safe from the elements and get great views over the lake. The reserve was teeming with Geese, Swans and Ducks .. Grey-lag, Canada , Mute, Mallard, Shoveler, Teal, Wigeon, Gadwall, Black-headed and Lesser Black-backed Gulls. You will need binoculars to get the best views as the avian visitors tend to concentrate over the back of the lake on the grassy areas but you can enjoy great views .. particularly on bright sunny days which I picked .. and all just 10 minutes drive away. Take your picnic lunch and a flask of coffee .. magical.
I wish you all good birding, A happy Christmas and a peaceful healthy new year
Brian Taylor
Photos: Dunnock,a pair of Gadwall Ducks..look for the Black back end and Black-headed Gull..poorly named by the Victorians..this is how it looks in Spring and Summer..and as you can see the Head is a wonderful chocolate brown colour. Those Victorians again !
As referenced in last month's notes .. unless you are near the coast or visiting local flooded nature reserves .. there is not an abundance of natural world interest this month. The garden feeders are being ravaged every day by the usual suspects .. Blue and Great Tits, Blackbirds, Collared Doves and Robins. Followed by the beautifully marked female Great Spotted Woodpecker; she clamped on to the peanut holder within 30 minutes of me fixing it up for the first time since the end of March .. how do they know?? Dunnocks and Wood Pigeons search on the ground below as they are not adapted to "cling on" feeding. In the list above I have not included the wonderful Long-tailed Tits .. hopefully not a worrying omission .. see my next paragraph.
We are not near the coast but the local reserves are the most easily accessed .. two of which I visited this month .. each only a short drive from the village. These are where the action is! Blackbourne Valley is relatively new and still a re-wilding reserve after years of arable farming on the land. It is not easy to find and previously some 2 years ago I did find a way in using a standard public footpath sign close to the village of Norton ... but obviously not the official entrance. This time I found the correct entrance with parking space closer to the village of Tostock. The first thing to say is never go in Winter without wearing wellingtons!! I did and even with walking boots I got wet feet. The hazard is in the title "Valley". The " Valley" part floods in Winter and is often 12-14 inches deep in places. I wanted to map out the whole reserve in my mind and did not stick to the signage. QED .. boots full of water and soaking socks. All this chaos can be eliminated if you simply follow the BLUE ARROW marked post signs which skirt around the wetter areas and keeps you on the higher ground. I have noted for the future!! Also the boardwalk Norton Village end is a must where I picked up the uniquely loud call of Cetti's Warbler .. crazy for December. Lots of Redwings and Woodpeckers and also flocks of Long-tailed Tits . It has been a mild weather year and they have obviously found adequate feeding opportunities in the wider countryside .. we like to think that the birds enjoy our gardens. Some genuinely do but others only come to the feeders when sustenance is not on offer in the woods and fields. I am sure that this reserve will be full of bird life in the coming Spring. A last word of caution .. there are no seats anywhere on the reserve .. I take an ultra light shooting stick which hooks on to the rucksack strap.
As it was on my route home I called in at Micklemere via the entrance opposite the Pakenham Mill House. You can sit comfortably in the hide safe from the elements and get great views over the lake. The reserve was teeming with Geese, Swans and Ducks .. Grey-lag, Canada , Mute, Mallard, Shoveler, Teal, Wigeon, Gadwall, Black-headed and Lesser Black-backed Gulls. You will need binoculars to get the best views as the avian visitors tend to concentrate over the back of the lake on the grassy areas but you can enjoy great views .. particularly on bright sunny days which I picked .. and all just 10 minutes drive away. Take your picnic lunch and a flask of coffee .. magical.
I wish you all good birding, A happy Christmas and a peaceful healthy new year
Brian Taylor
Photos: Dunnock,a pair of Gadwall Ducks..look for the Black back end and Black-headed Gull..poorly named by the Victorians..this is how it looks in Spring and Summer..and as you can see the Head is a wonderful chocolate brown colour. Those Victorians again !
Photos: Dunnock - a pair of Gadwall Ducks - Black-headed Gull
Dunnock,a pair of Gadwall Ducks .. look for the Black back end and Black-headed Gull .. poorly named by the Victorians .. this is how it looks in Spring and Summer .. and as you can see the Head is a wonderful chocolate brown colour. Those Victorians again !
Dunnock,a pair of Gadwall Ducks .. look for the Black back end and Black-headed Gull .. poorly named by the Victorians .. this is how it looks in Spring and Summer .. and as you can see the Head is a wonderful chocolate brown colour. Those Victorians again !
click on the picture to enlarge