Pett Level
29th December 2006, FridayOn my third attempt, I finally caught up with the Woodlarks this morning on the westernmost field of the National Trust’s Wickham Manor Farm, where 11 of them were in the company of about 50 Meadow Pipits and a few Skylarks among rough thistly stubble. A permissive footpath runs up from the RM Canal to a clifftop stile from where it should be quite easy to hear their attractive fluting call.
On top of the hill, in the patch of birdfood where they have mostly been seen, there were at least a dozen Yellowhammers. The hedgerows contain plump blue Bullace fruits – sweet enough to eat and a little bit sharp, but not enough to turn your mouth to sandpaper like Sloes do.
Other recent birds at Pett have included a flock of 18 White-fronted Geese on 27th and Peregrine, Green Sandpiper, Grey Wagtail & Barn Owl most days.