The Stream, or more like a ditch
There is a local patch I haven't mentioned yet, one I go to every week but don't write about. This area contains large tracts of farmland, and due to its paucity of other habitats (such as water and woodlands) doesn't attract many birds. However this patch happens to start behind the next street up so it is very handy for some quick birding.
Today's highlight has to be the WOODCOCK I disturbed whilst trudging through some field. I reckon this bird was a migrant, one of the first of spring.
Elsewhere a large flock of birds several hundred strong, were feeding on one of the prairie fields left fallow after harvesting. This consisted mainly of winter thrushes - FIELDFARE and REDWING, but also with some smaller birds - YELLOWHAMMER, LINNETS and GOLDFINCHES. The farmer will probably spray it with pesticides soon, so I doubt the birds will linger.
LINNET flock
On the 28/1 there was a large flock of 80+ LINNETS, feeding in the fields and roosting on the telephone wires. Now these birds, although very common breeding birds, don't usually winter in the area, so I take this to be a migrant flock, and to be the first sign of spring. Also present in the same field but separate were 17 SKYLARKS.
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