Mainly nice visit to Cole End Local Nature Reserve in Coleshill this morning, all will become clear as to what slightly spoiled the day.
Bird wise it was the usual species I would have expected to see, even though there didn't seem as many in previous visits but I suppose that happens wherever you go. Flocks of Tits and Finches were abundant, as were Blackbird and unusually Wren, it was also great nearer to the houses to see House Sparrow, further in the fields it was great to see Reed Bunting, Song Thrush and Collared Dove.
Unfortunately some areas were totally inaccessible due to high water levels and the 'work' being done, the route I ending up taking was a big mistake as even though I had my walking boots on, it was wellington boot territory, which was obviously of only a minor annoyance until you realised that even though the flooded areas were obviously down to a lot of heavy rainfall of late this was only exacerbated by the 'work' being done which as if you haven't guessed by now is the foundation work for the (waste of time and money) HS2 'project', to think it will, as in many other locations, cut straight through this land which is devastating, it's a prime bit of land where the birds and nature are largely left to that, nature, the tracks literally run right through the main hedgerow, bushes and trees, still it's only birds so why should the Government and all those receiving backhanders care, shame on them !
Birds seen today were, House Sparrow, Reed Bunting, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long Tailed Tit, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Collared Dove, Woodpigeion, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Moorhen and Mallard.
#STOPHS2
Great trip as always to Southfields Farm in Coleshill this morning where despite some early wind and rain the morning actually turned out be one blessed with blue skies and even some winter sunshine.
Among the highlights was the sighting of eight Yellowhammer (four male and four female), there were probably more as they were darting from the hedgerow to the winter supplementary food John the Farmer puts down for them and back to the hedgerow and back again, there were definitely eight though as they were seen all at the same time, this was especially pleasing as I met John in one of the fields at the beginning of the walk and he said he hadn't seen many this year as I haven't either, the same could also be said for Reed Bunting but they were present in double figures at the same location, in separate parts of the farm there were two flocks of c.50 Chaffinch, unusually both flocks only contained Chaffinch where this time of the year I would expect to seem mixed flocks, maybe that's down to the fact we haven't had many sub zero temperature nights this winter, talking of flocks of birds it was great to see a flock of c.100 Linnet, they are spread out across the farm this year so again I would say there were definitely more, much less in number but equally as pleasing was sighting of a small flock of Siskin, finally all around the farm, Skylark could be seen and heard, which is always a good sign of good farming practices with birds and nature taken into consideration.
Birds seen today were, Yellowhammer, Siskin, Linnet, Reed Bunting, Skylark, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long Tailed Tit, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, House Sparrow, Robin, Dunnock, Wren, Robin, Starling, Collared Dove, Blackbird, Woodpigeon, Stock Dove, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Pheasant, Pied Wagtail, Grey Heron and Moorhen.
Also seen flying overhead were Cormorant which is a timely reminder as I won't be reporting any more sightings of them as 'anglers' read reports online of their locations and then kill them because they have the audacity to kill birds to survive where so called 'anglers' catch fish for sport.
Other wildlife seen today were Rabbit and Hare, seeing a Hare is especially exciting as I don't see them very often and they are great to watch when they are in full flow.
