Friday 13th.February 2009

Whilst preparing my tools for hedgelaying tommorrow , Carol called 'Male Blackcap on the Callicarpa' . I shot upstairs to the back bedroom window , camera in hand , just in time to see him fly off , but he didn't go far , just onto the lawn to have a go at the remains of an apple , giving the chance of one shot . Something disturbed him and he flew off behind the garage , and whilst I was waiting to see if he would come back , a pair of Jackdaws perched on the trellis with the fat ball dangling . Their carry on made me smile . I think the one on the right was a female , and she was giving him the old wing shimmering bit and at the same time calling to him . He had that ' GBH of the Donalds ' look on his face and it looked like she was telling him to ' keep his strength up' , if he was to do a good job this breeding season . I don't know where the bird on the left got it , but it has a ring on one leg . Anyway , the whole thing made me smile .

After lunch , and in sunshine , I went back to Hayes Farm , mainly to see if anything had changed at the Trout Fishery . There were still large numbers of Gulls and Corvids and still all rising into the air noisily for no apparent reason . The female Stonechat was still in the same area , but with a circular saw working from a tractor by the logpile , she was even more nervous . Noticable by their absence were the Pied Wagtails , as I only had one overfly during my visit . No sign of Winter Thrushes at all today . As I approached the Trout Fishery , the white geese were all in the field below and very vocal . In the same field were 11 Moorhen and 4 Rabbits . 4 Canada Geese lifted off the Fishery and headed for another field to join others . In total they numbered 24 , a big inrease since last visit . At the gate to the Fishery , I found what could be bothering the white geese , 2 Mute Swans were 'Swan-upping' in the margins . Here's one of the 'uppers' and in the foreground , just for Warren , one of the 15 Coots on site is just about fo dive . Also on the increase are the Tufted Ducks , numbering 6 male and 3 female now . The Egyptian Goose was right over the other side with the 'Bitsers' . Leaving the Fishery , with one angler , I headed further on up the track to look for a Little Owl site that I had been told about . Just before reaching the spot , I had one very quick sighting as an Owl flew in , but by the time I got close , all I saw was the back of it's head in it's hole . Hopefully , I'll get it another day .

Returning back along the track towards the Fishery , I came across an Oak tree with 4 different fungi growing on it's branches . A really good specimen of Tremella msennterica-Yellow Brain Fungus , followed by Exidia glandulosa-Witches Butter . Along with the fungi , was a nice specimen of lichen , but I must admit , I don't know which one it is .

In the field just before getting back to the Fishery , I thought I had found a couple of Winter Finches , but they turned ou to be a pair of Mistle Thrush . At the Fishery , the Egyptian Goose was quite close and had joined up with the 'Bitsers' and a Mallard . This shot shows what a small Goose the Egyptian is . Making my way back to the car , I found the Skylark flock numbering 12 and also the Linnet flock , numbering a depleted 6 .

Hedgelaying tomorrow and all next week , so it might be a while before posting again , unless the Red Kite which has been seen over Hawkwood , puts in an appearance .