Southfields Farm, Coleshill.

As you can see Southfields Farm in Coleshill won again today, so Ward End Park is going to have to stay on my 'to do list'.

As per usual there was plenty to see on and around the farm, I've probably mentioned the House Sparrow's on every blog I've done from here but when they are present in such huge numbers it's hard not to start with them especially as they will always be one of my favourite birds, a bird that wasn't always a favourite but definitely is these days is the wonderful looking Starling, another bird which is doing well at this location, which is great as it's almost easy to forget they are a farmyard bird and not one that you see in town centres and shopping car parks scrabbling around for peoples discarded pasties and the like, shame on us for making some birds resort to this pathetic behaviour, even though it's great to see them among us I find it a bit sad that they have to do this and even worse, that's all some people ever even see of wildlife and then most people don't even notice the birds. anyway it was great to see them checking out potential nesting sites in the holes in the trees.

On better news, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting, Linnet, Fieldfare and Redwing were all present in decent numbers, the following numbers are a best guess but they numbered roughly in the following amounts, Yellowhammer - at least 20, Reed Bunting - c.50, Linnet - c.300, Redwing - c.300 and Fieldfare - c.200, like I said they are rough guesses but bear in mind that I've gone lower rather than higher with the numbers, the Linnet's looked amazing when they were all in a tree and it was a truly wonderful sight to see them all fly down in unison to the crops, sadly though they flew down because a flock of Redwing and Fieldfare flew into the tree they were in, so sadly that was the last I saw of the Linnets, talking of the Redwing and Fieldfare, they numbered in the hundreds in the fields either side of one of the tracks where John the farmer leaves supplementary seed for birds over the winter and that was not mentioning the decent amount of Redwing and Fieldfare I saw in the other fields as well.

Birds seen today were, Buzzard, Yellowhammer, Linnet, Reed Bunting, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, House Sparrow, Dunnock, Robin, Starling, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Redwing, Fieldfare, Collared Dove, Blackbird, Woodpigeon, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Rook, Magpie, Grey Heron, Pied Wagtail and Moorhen.

In the garden apart from the usual characters, including the Sparrowhawk it's nice to have a pair of Goldrest and a male Blackcap visiting, there may also be a female but I haven't seen one yet.

Southfields Farm, Coleshill.

Nice to get out birding again after having a virus to start 2019, much better now though, I'd originally planned to pay a visit to Ward End Park being as the pool is open to the public again but being as it was rather frosty this morning I thought Southfields Farm would be a better proposition, hopefully I'll get to Ward End Park next week instead.

Like I said the farm and the fields looked great in the frosty/snowy conditions and as per usual you could see and hear all the House Sparrows before you even got out of the car, they definitely number in three figures at this location which is great in this day and age, thanks to John's great work the following birds are also among those thriving, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting, Linnet and Starling thanks to the seed he puts down and the plants he grows to help the birds through the winter months.

This time of the year it's always great to see Fieldfare and Redwing ad they are both stunning looking thrushes as was the Mistle Thrush I saw who looked absolutely stunning with the sunlight showing off all it's great colours.

Birds seen today were, Buzzard, House Sparrow, Yellowhammer, Linnet, Reed Bunting, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Dunnock, Wren, Starling, Pied Wagtail, Fieldfare, Redwing, Mistle Thrush, Collared Dove, Blackbird, Woodpigeon, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Magpie and Moorhen.

If you want to see the amazing amount of birds John attracts to the farm then check out the short video on my Twitter feed, you won't be disappointed.

After disappearing from the garden for a while after being 'picked off' on a daily basis, my House Sparrows have returned in great numbers in the last few weeks which unfortunately could mean only one thing, the return of their nemesis.....the Sparrowhawk, it can be seen above after already having 'despatched' of one of my babies (footage can be seen on my Twitter page), only to return within the hour to terrorize them again, thankfully it didn't make a kill on this occasion but a Coal, Blue and Great Tit had a very lucky escape when it swooped in when they were atop of the apple tree in my garden and it can be seen here watching them as they were hiding in among the bushes, the Sparrowhawk is a stunning looking bird, just a pity it has to kill the smaller birds to survive.