January has been a great month for sightings, particularly up on Spring Hill. Our resident group of over one hundred golden plovers have been joined by groups of fieldfares and redwings, all quite usual for this time of year, but in addition we have seen a flock of linnets, two bullfinches and an extremely white buzzard.
The skylarks are still there and beginning to sing on sunny days. A daily sighting while the snow was on the hill has been a group of eight to ten very vocal red kites gathered on a fence, as if having a mothers meeting!
Lower down there has been a gadwall duck on Manor Lake, together with a pair of Egyptian geese – very distinctive with their piebald wings and red legs. A shy water rail has been spotted on the edge of the river, while marsh tits, nuthatches, meadow pipits and chiffchaff have all been seen in the valley. In the garden we have been putting out water as well as food while the pond was frozen. The water has seemed to be even more popular than the food. While watching the pond we were amused to see a thrush literally skating on the ice!
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