From Scandinavia to Sussex - Winter migrants

Today was fantastic - the largest numbers of Fieldfare, 300 at least and Redwing, 50 at least that I've ever seen - here on the Riverside Walk. Do they know more than we do? Almost certainly yes.

Hard times ahead for hungry birds when the ground freezes.

The oaks form a good vantage point from which to view the best hedgerows to fly to next for rich pickings of berries and fruits, plenty of sloes remain on the Blackthorn after an abundant autumn. The advance party of redwing flew in first and decided to stay, then they were joined by more and more with a few fieldfare amongst them but today it was the day of the fieldfare, an invasion of hundreds together with redwing.  They flew together in small expeditionary groups rather than a large flock, the most effective way of seeking out the best thickets.

A sound picture as well, starting with a great spotted woodpecker drumming in an old oak, a green woodpecker yaffling, nuthatches calling, the very soft call of a bullfinch, starlings whistling accompanied by a huge background orchestra of redwing and fieldfare with more tuneful robin, song thrush, and wren.

January 15th 2012 - a day to remember, as two Little Egrets have returned to the river! Perhaps the cold weather has sent them inland to shelter as a freezing easterly wind was blowing after a frosty start, blowing the very dry oak leaves around on the ground. The younger oaks keep their leaves throughout the winter however:

Oak leaves on a young oak against a cold blue sky

Blackthorn with sloes, plenty for redwing and fieldfare

Here's what was seen this morning on the Riverside at Hills Farm Lane:

house sparrow (40+), starling (13), grey wagtail under the bridge, great spotted woodpecker drumming, woodpigeon (18), blackbird (20), herring gull (5), nuthatch (4), chaffinch (6), redwing on the Blackthorn (15), song thrush singing loudly (3), greenfinch (3), blue tit (46), long-tailed tit (7), black cap (1), great tit (17), magpie (3), goldfinch (8), black-headed gull (20+), robin (5), LITTLE EGRET maybe pair , shining brightly in the sun, perched on riverside tree branches (2), carrion crow (7), wren (1), dunnock (1)