What have you seen

Thanks Pliers seems to be lots of Hawfinches around the country this year.  We saw 4 at Lynford Arboretum a couple of weeks ago. Hope you get to see some.

Good day yesterday went to Wareham Greens which is about 2 miles south of Wells next Sea.  As I drove into the track a badger scuttled across in front of me.  Parked the car and started to walk and within half a mile saw buzzard, kestrel, red kite, hen harrier, approx 75 to 100 Field Fare/redwings and a short eared owl.  Never been down this track before and only went cos I read it’s a roosting area for Raptors.  On Friday there were 4 Hen Harriers reported, in previous years there have been up to 10.

Today looked like it was going to be a bit dismal, as I would have to stay home waiting for a delivery.

Spent the morning knocking up a bird table to attract species that don't use hanging feeders. Then cleaned all the hanging feeders and refilled.

This afternoon I got my reward, the first bird on the table was a robin who then spent 30 minutes or so chasing away anything that came near. Once he had given in, the stream of birds was fairly constant. Coal tit was next to try out the table and to date they were the only taker. However the feeders and ground feed I put around brought me Goldfinch, Greenfinch,Bluetit, Great tit,Thrush, Blackbird, Wren, Dunnock, Wood Pigeon and Collared Dove, Crows, Magpies  Sparrows by the dozen and to top it off, we now have about twenty Redwings just turned up and sat in our trees.

What a great day for a delivery.

Bit dark for a pic but grabbed one through the window.

Nice one BM.

On the way to Wells-next-the-Sea today from Blakeney a male Hen Harrier floated across the road in front of us and a female Marsh Harrier on the return trip some 5 hours later!

Hi WN

Swap the sightings for a day watching Hen Harriers

The place to see hen harriers in Norfolk is just south of Wells at a place called Wareham Greens. Lots of Raptors roost their, last Friday there were 4 hen harries amongst other raptors.  If you need directions let me know

Hi OP

We will be heading over that way come the spring/early summer, so will keep this in mind. Just checked Wareham Greens on google which seems to suggest that the Hen Harriers are mainly in winter, is this correct?

Are you still thinking of visiting Gwash Farm next year? 

Only visited the once (last weekend) so don’t really know.  Never the less there was a lot about on the track and on the marshy foreshore. 

Wareham Green does tend to be best as a wintering roost, BM. Good in the last hour of daylight.

Had a nice walk from Blakeney to Cley, seeing a lovely Barn Owl a couple of Marsh Harriers and plenty of Brent Geese.

Edit - BM if you happen to be anywhere near the Wirral then you'll see overwintering Hen Harriers on the River Dee. Best area is from Burton (near the Harp pub) to Parkgate, best when there's a good tide. Also great chance of seeing Short Eared Owls.

According to a Norfolk bird site, January at Warham appears to be best WN. Unfortunately the Wirrel is a fair way off from Avon.

Might have to get the cover off the van, or maybe a hotel break.

Watched a grey squirrel chase both our blackbirds off any bird food this morning 😲😲. Waited till the squirrel had cleared off and put out more food for the blackbirds and had 4 come and eat it as a reward 😆