Driving around the M25 on Sautrday night as the sun approached the horizon I was struck by the arial motorway at right angles to the road above the Lea valley. Hundreds of gulls were flying down the valley, presumably to roost on the reservoirs between Chingford and Walthamstow. I recalled a similar site in Slough some years ago, watching the gulls head east above the Bath Road. At least then I wasn't negotiating three lanes of traffic and could stand still and watch.
On Sunday a short car journey had me alert for anything interesting. A party of young pheasants wandered across the road near Latimer, the cock birds almost but not quite into their adult plumage and without the long tail feathers. Plenty of small birds flew across my path, too fast to identify any although one could well have been a rather late swallow. Crows and rooks were in evidence on the fields and a kestrel was hovering close to the road. They are not as common in the hills as they are along some of the main roads but I have seen one swoop on a mouse right beside my stationalry car before now. (The mouse escaped by the way).
Taking advantage of being at home on a fine Sunday I abandoned the gardening and took a walk in the fields behind the house. Surprisingly the stubble had been left and there were a few field poppies in flower along the edges. The skylarks were taking advantage of the conditions as was a yellowhammer. I had slipped a lightweight pair of bins in my pocket but wished I had carried my normal birdwatching pair which seem much easier to train on an sbj in flight.
The garden, however, is still devoid of any birds at all. I won't even think of refilling the feeders before November. In the mean time I have to reconsider what feeds to use. I am planning to switch to "no mess" mixes as over the years sunflower husks build up and provide an excellent environment for nettles. While I always keep a nettle patch in the garden the feeders are supposed to be in the main part of the lawn!
On Sunday a short car journey had me alert for anything interesting. A party of young pheasants wandered across the road near Latimer, the cock birds almost but not quite into their adult plumage and without the long tail feathers. Plenty of small birds flew across my path, too fast to identify any although one could well have been a rather late swallow. Crows and rooks were in evidence on the fields and a kestrel was hovering close to the road. They are not as common in the hills as they are along some of the main roads but I have seen one swoop on a mouse right beside my stationalry car before now. (The mouse escaped by the way).
Taking advantage of being at home on a fine Sunday I abandoned the gardening and took a walk in the fields behind the house. Surprisingly the stubble had been left and there were a few field poppies in flower along the edges. The skylarks were taking advantage of the conditions as was a yellowhammer. I had slipped a lightweight pair of bins in my pocket but wished I had carried my normal birdwatching pair which seem much easier to train on an sbj in flight.
The garden, however, is still devoid of any birds at all. I won't even think of refilling the feeders before November. In the mean time I have to reconsider what feeds to use. I am planning to switch to "no mess" mixes as over the years sunflower husks build up and provide an excellent environment for nettles. While I always keep a nettle patch in the garden the feeders are supposed to be in the main part of the lawn!
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