Stonechat
The year began with a mean temperature of 7.8°C and rain. The 2nd was dry with a beautiful sunny morning and frost in the shade, the mean temperature dropped to 2.8°C.. Song Thrush, Robin, Dunnock and Great Tits were loud in song. Nuthatch calling near Field Shelter in Kiln Close. There were 4 Bullfinch in the North Park Hedge. The cattle appear to prefer grazing the top of the Main Field. Three small bird nestboxes were erected, two replacement and one new. A Barn Owl was seen in Kiln Close at about 4:30pm as it was becoming dimpsy. By the 3rd the mean temperature had dropped again to 0.8°C. There were 4 Yellowhammer, 7 Goldfinch, a couple of Chaffinch, Dunnock and one Wren in the crop, with a Sparrowhawk flying over. There was a Stonechat in the hedge between Kiln Close and Top Field.
On the 6th a male Cirl Bunting (first site record) was seen in Pennsland Lane hedge with female Reed Bunting. They were sunning themselves then flew into the crop. There were also 2 Yellowhammer and 3 Goldfinch in crop and 8 Meadow Pipit around the cattle. A female Stonechat was seen on the slopes of the Main Field and there was a flock of 7 Bullfinch feeding on Hawthorn buds in North Park. We recorded 9 Mistle Thrush along the east side of Top Field and 12 Blackbird around Forde Orchard with Greenfinch and Fieldfare. A Great Spotted Woodpecker flew out of Kiln Close hedge.
