Saturday 11th. February 2012

The day started with another sighting of the male Blackcap whilst we were having breakfast . Only trouble was that next door but one's two cats were prowling around the gardens , and next door's dog was barking in their's . All of which made the small bird very nervous , and it spent most of the time

concealed in vegetation , obviously wanting to get down to the Callicarpa berries to feed . It managed a couple of quick darts to get berries , too quick to get a reasonable shot . Then , all of a

sudden , flew up onto the top of the Laburnum , and posed , with his back to the camera . Eventually , he did get his breakfast , then retired onto the sunny side of a conifer to digest it . A smaller number

of Fieldfares this morning , just about 40/50 arrived and settled in the Sycamore , only problem being

that the cupboard is as good as bare .  This was the area where I photographed the 17 birds amongst plenty of berries just a short time back . A couple of birds were finding the odd berry , and a few more were finding the fallen berries below the bush , but not enough to satisfy all those hungry Thrushes waiting above . So , all together , they were up and off to find another food source , and haven't been seen again this afternoon . Breakfast over , I set off to do the bird survey at a very cold Down House , the car thermometer read -6C on my arrival . What seems to be the average species count was true again this visit with 17 species being recorded , the best of them being 7 Fieldfare in two small groups . The small meadows have got sheep in them , but the large meadow , apart from the footpath which runs diagonally through it , still has pristine snow covering it . Pristine apart from

lots of animal/bird tracks . I photographed a couple of them , and would hesitate to suggest that had both sets of prints been made at the same time , it would have caused conflict , as I believe that the large tracks are that of a Fox and the other that of a Pheasant , but as always , I stand to be corrected .

 The second I'm not sure of at all , but am going for Rabbit . The two most interesting sightings of the

visit were , the sheep , helping out the ground staff with the hedge trimming , I couldn't make out what the noise was from the walled garden , the other side of the hedge , and a very brief encounter ,

right on the edge of the large meadow with this female Roe Deer . I managed this and one other shot , before she sped off , closely followed by a smaller animal . I wonder if the second animal was the fawn I found in the long grass , way back last year ?
And finally , commiserations to Simon , who gave out the information , and others who went to Mote Park today , hoping to see the 11 Goosander , which were nowhere to be seen . Yesterday was so lucky for myself and others , but , I suppose , that is birding .