The walk took place on the morning of 7 November, a mild, sunny and calm day, following a period of similar weather with some cold nights. The following 25 species were recorded. The two Stonechats were a new species for our Bird Walks: they were initially heard, and then seen flying to and from the concrete field-edge posts in the open country at the furthest point of the walk. The angle of the sun made it difficult to see them in detail, but one was clearly a male, and as Stonechats are often seen in pairs it is reasonable to assume that this was the case with these two birds. (These birds were also seen nearby by Phil Roberts and Helen Walkington later the same day. Helen’s photograph of the male bird can be seen at the beginning of the ‘Bird Walks’ section.)
Red-legged Partridge (C)
Pheasant (C)
Buzzard (C)
Red Kite (A,C)
Kestrel (A)
Herring Gull (C)
Woodpigeon (A,B,C)
Tawny Owl (B – heard from C)
Magpie (A,C)
Jackdaw (A,C)
Rook (B,C)
Carrion Crow (B,C)
Blue Tit (B,C)
Great Tit (B,C)
Skylark (C)
Pied Wagtail (A)
Wren (A,C)
Stonechat (C – 2 birds)
Dunnock (A,C)
Blackbird (A,B,C)
Fieldfare (C – flock of c.30)
Robin (A,B,C)
House Sparrow (A)
Chaffinch (A,C)
Yellowhammer (C)