Brede High Woods
23rd December 2009, Wednesday
Crossbills are still present in the pines of Holman Wood (for detailed map from the Woodland Trust click here), along with some Siskins, but it’s hard to work out how many because the branches get in the way even when the birds are flying. Otherwise, the pines were occupied by Chaffinches, Goldcrests, GS Woodpeckers and numerous Great Tits.
Passing through the bare branches of the deciduous woods were several large parties of mixed tits, including good-sized strings of Long-tailed and smaller numbers of Coal and Marsh Tits, all uttering their distinctive calls. Noisy Nuthatches were hammering at their food, a few Goldcrests were already in song and 2 Tawny Owls hooting.
It’s not surprising that there are so many LTs about since they, along with many other common species, have enjoyed exceptional breeding success this year, according to a report from the BTO.
Although there was no disturbance at all and the water mostly unfrozen, wildfowl numbers on the reservoir were low - small numbers of Mallard, Gadwall, and Tufted Duck with no Coot or GC Grebes at all. However, an unexpected Water Rail was squealing from some rushes and overhead a Raven appeared. Last month I saw one flying straight over, but this one spent several minutes circling over the dam area, making such a communicative variety of sounds that we felt sure a second bird must be somewhere around.
