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January 2024 Ramsbury Bird Notes by Paul Swan

The fieldfare and redwings have finally arrived in some numbers. Over a hundred are up on Spring Hill with the golden plovers and another large flock was seen on the way to Littlecote. On that same day we saw over 30 red kites circling above us – probably cleaning up after a shoot in the days before. In the short days of January all birds spend most of their time feeding. Researchers have found that a great tit spends 75% of the daylight hours looking for food, the blue tit 85% and the coal tit 90%! Some birds simply change their diet to focus on what is available. The blackbird for example will augment its already varied diet by going for small fish, frogs and even mice when needed. The robin, with relatively large eyes can feed earlier and later than other birds, and many robins now forage under artificial light as well, especially in cold weather.


Our resident robin has always been a ground feeder but has recently started to compete with the sparrows and tits on the hanging feeder. Despite the adverse weather and short days, the biological clock is running, and some birds will start building nests in January. I was amused to see a blue tit spending some minutes inside one of our nesting boxes – clearly in the market for a new year residence.




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