Doleham
29th January 2006, Sunday
Narrow rectangular fields running down to the Brede are part of an ancient pattern, truncated in the mid 19th century by the contour-hugging railway. They are divided by parallel ditches draining springs that flow from the Lidham hillside.
During the last year, low bunds have been built to retain some of this water and, lack of rain notwithstanding, the rushy meadows are beginning to flood.
This is to the liking of c20 Snipe in the more open parts and Blackbirds, which search the soft peat close to the railway, ready to fly for safety in the trackside trees should a Sparrowhawk sail along.
Apart from the usual birds in the tall trees, 3 Woodcock, 2 Pheasants and a Little Owl flew up from the leaf-litter of the embankment.
Most other action is around the field of turnips, progressively consumed by sheep, on the W side of the Doleham Stream, where 250 Woodpigeons, 100 Common Gulls, 100 Starlings, 30 Carrion Crows and at least 6 Pied Wagtails feed, mostly on the “cutting edge†of recently trampled feed. From time to time they are unnerved by a Buzzard or panicked by a Peregrine.
Along the Brede itself were 2 Green Sandpipers and a flock of 6 Little Grebes, while beside the Doleham Stream were 12 Meadow Pipits and 2 Stonechats.
