Winter 2026, Bird Walk No. 69
The walk took place on the morning of 24 January, a dull, mild day in a series of such days. There were 9 participants, and the following 26 species were recorded. A notable aspect of the list is the absence of any gull species: Black-Headed Gulls in particular are normally seen in some numbers on the fields at this time of year. The absence of Woodpeckers, Dunnocks, and Long-tailed Tits was probably a matter of chance, as these were all seen along the route on adjacent days, but the absence of Greenfinches was more likely further evidence of the steep decline nationally in the population of this species in recent years.
Pheasant (A)
Red Kite (A,B,C)
Buzzard (C)
Woodpigeon (A,B)
Skylark (C – at least one singing)
Robin (A,B,C)
Blackbird (A,B,C)
Fieldfare (B,C – c.10 in all)
Redwing (A,C – c.20 in all; a much larger flock in area C had been seen the previous day)
Song Thrush (C – at least one singing)
Wren (A)
Goldcrest (A,B)
Marsh Tit (B,C)
Coal Tit (B,C)
Blue Tit (A,B,C)
Great Tit (B,C)
Nuthatch (B)
Treecreeper (B)
Magpie (A,B)
Jackdaw (A,B)
Rook (A)
Carrion Crow (A,B)
Raven (B – 2 birds together)
Chaffinch (A,B)
Goldfinch (C)
Greenfinch (C)