Skip to main content

Robins

The fat feeders have attracted several robins. In the back garden we have distinguished three individuals, not so sure about the front although we have had a blue tit on that feeder. Nothing has been observed going to the peanut feeder at the back.

A walk today by Bottom Lane and Trapps Lane to Waterside revealed little in the way of birds although at one point there is a fantastic view across the Chess valley with most of the housing hidden in the folk of the hill. The river itself is flowing well below the junction with Moor Road, I am not sure where all the channels go across the moor but there seemed to be a heavy flow coming from a culvert and nothing coming through the old mill leat across the road. This may come from a spring or borehole as the flow upstream from this point is negligable. There was sufficient water for a group of mallards to swim but above the moor the flow became very slight and sluggish.

It was nice to see a wren when walking up Duck Alley but there was no flow visible from the culvert that runs under the High Street. At Water Lane the river is pretty well clogged by weed, there was nothing coming down the channel from Pednormead End and the spring by the Water Meadow car park seems to be the highest source of water at the moment.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

No Choice

Taking my usual walk today it was striking how the autumn colours had come on in the last few days. When the sun came out I really regretted not having the camera with me. There wasn't much to see in the way of variety or numbers of birds. A couple of probable skylarks put up on a cultivated field but the gem was naturally a red kite. Circling over the fields behind my house at tree top height it finally came over my head as I reached the edge of the field. Living where I do I suppose that I should be blasé about them by now but when one comes overhead there is no choice. I still just stop and say "wow!"

Harvest

The arable fields between Ley Hill and Latimer have been harvested over the last couple of days. This morning I saw a group of yellowhammers in the middle of the road by a field gate. From the look of things they were eating spilled grain. Instead of flying into the hedgerow they flew away from me along the road at windscreen height. I haven't seen much else recently apart from a distant glimpse of a partridge and the occasional red kite.

Not So Quiet

 During September and October the garden normally seems to be devoid of birds. For the last few days there has been a flock of tits on the feeder. At least 5 blues at a time plus two or three long tailed as well as the occasional great and coal. This only takes place later in the afternoon, usually at around 5.