Another Local Walk

 For our exercise walk today Margie and I decided to head north of the village, our road was full of birds Sparrows, Starlings and Blackbirds in the main, we headed out to Langton Lane was very misty and everything was covered in a lovely frost.

Blackbird

Frosty Stuff

Frosty Stuff by Margie

More Frosty Stuff by Margie

Frosty Langton Lane by Margie

As we came onto Langton Lane I immediately heard a Bullfinch calling, it duly appeared flying from side to side of the road ahead of us, was almost impossible to get a picture of, soon another appeared and another always tantalisingly out of reach, the only view the white rump seen disappearing into the hedge , difficult to say how many birds in the flock, definitely 7 but could easily have been 10-12!!

Lovely to see.

Bullfinch

Bullfinch

The walk down the lane was very enjoyable, lots of birds with Robins, Blackbirds, Song Thrushes, Dunnocks and Wrens appearing in and out of the tall, thick hedges either side of the road It was noticeable that the number of birds fell when we came to the area where the hedges have been cut low. Didn't get many pictures though to busy chasing Bullfinch shadows.

Robin

We reached the Dung Heap, very quiet here compared to last week just a couple of Robins, Margie got a pic of what appears to be a partially leucistic Blackbird however things picked up when a few hundred yards up the road we found a nice flock of 5 Greenfinch!

Greenfinch

Greenfinch

Greenfinch

Frosty View by Margie

Leucistic Blackbird? or maybe just Frosty by Margie

Frosty Wire

We continued up the lane, found a field with a large flock of Redwings spread out over it but were too distant for pics although the flock of Skylark approximately 12 birds were a bit closer, Blackbirds and Song Thrushes continued to appear regularly.

Frosty Lantern by Margie

Blackbird

Skylark

Skylark

So we followed the lane before heading west along Herrings stream, highlights along here were some Great Tits and a couple of Nuthatches which flew in calling and again lots more Blackbirds and Song Thrushes by the numbers of these about would suggest they are migratory rather than local birds.The stream here is fringed by Reedmace but as yesterday no Penduline Tit could be found.

Great Tit

Nuthatch

Reedmace

Reedmace

Frosty view by Margie

Frosty Tree by Margie

Frosty stuff by Margie

Reedmace by Margie

We crossed the stream and headed back across the field, the freezing fog descended again and visibility became very poor, we headed through the plantation and came out again back on Langton Lane.

Herring Gulls in the mist

Frosty Trees

Trees by Margie

Stream by Margie

Back on the lane much the same as before lots of Blackbirds and Thrushes the field below the Dung Heap had a flock of 30+ Fieldfares spread out across it but too distant for pics Margie found a friendly Robin ,loads of posy Robins but would they sit on a frosty bit with a view to next years Calendar's December page would they heck as like!! I found a nice posy Mistle Thrush but that was about it, 

Blackbird Close Up!

Just seen on the Weather Forecast this is called by Super cold water droplets in the Fog!

Mistle Thrush

Frosty Stuff by Margie again!

Robin

A very nice frosty walk, another 3 and a half miles under me belt now if I can only stay away from the Xmas Cake!! On arrival home the garden provided a bit of interest with a male Blackcap showing well.

Blackcap taken through glass

Blackcap through Glass