Called in at Hippenscoombe Bottom, Wiltshire, on the way back form a business trip. Unfortunately, the fog descended about a mile from the layby, and was thick, right along the ridge. Did see a Marsh Tit, but was unable to scan the valley which was the whole point of going there.
Decided to cut my losses and continued towards home, the fog cleared about a mile the other side of the ridge. I stopped off at the lakes just north of Casbrook Common. Not much on the lakes, but a big Finch flock feeding amongst Pheasants in a field of Maize warranted a closer look. About 500 chaffinches, and 100 Goldfinches, and the highlight: a single Brambling. Brambling is a strange bird for me: totally fed up with seeing them during holidays in Lapland, yet can't get enough of them in the UK! This was my first for a couple of years, in what looks like the start of a good winter for them. This one was a smart Winter Male.
Seeing the abundance of birds in the Maize field prompted me to call in at Hoe Lane to see how the Pheasant Runs are looking, but the Maize here is still unharvested and about 7 foot high. |
