Around 20 of us gathered in freezing but sunny conditions for a birding feast. Lacking Corn Bunting we had to be
satisfied with two Grey Partridges, 200 Common Gulls and 165 Lapwings. Two Buzzards and a Kestrel perched about a horse paddock, overlooking ground feeding Fieldfares, a Mistle Thrush, and Starlings. Along the side road was a sizeable flock of Fieldfares in the grasslands, and a Stonechat perched on tall stalks while a Linnet teased seeds from others. Passing a Skylark in full song, we saw a dozen Common Gulls before Red-legged Partridge, a flight of 45 Lapwings, six Stock Doves, a Red Kite, a Buzzard and also a Red Fox and a Hare. A Lesser Blackbacked Gull fed with more Common Gulls. A closer examination of eight Yellowhammers in a distant hedge revealed 14 Red-legged Partridges and then two Grey Partridges feeding in stubble. 120 Lapwings flew past before we
tracked a flock of 21 Yellowhammers along a field margin where a Bullfinch broke cover. A ploughing tractor attracted three Buzzards, nine Pied Wagtails and four species of our commonest gulls. 36 bird species in total. (Thanks to Mike for leading)
Mike Jackson