Saturday, November 03, 2012
No doubt there were dozens of ring ouzels at Combe today because we decided to go instead to Warren Farm, from where we did a walk of almost 14 kilometres.
The best birds were two lesser redpolls, feeding low down on weed-heads just west of Streatley Warren. It was difficult to focus on them with all the surrounding stems and twigs, and I could only get a presentable record shot of one bird. However, I'm pleased with it because these were my first redpolls on the Ridgeway.
This is where we left the Ridgeway to strike out on our northern loop; and we stood for a while looking west towards the Compton Downs. Beyond the line of trees and bushes that marks the disused railway, a tractor was ploughing the grassy slopes next to the gallops. The dark brown patches were speckled with the white of many gulls, and no doubt there were other birds up there, exploiting the freshly turned soil.
Redwings, fieldfares, and large numbers of blackbirds were along the hedgerows where hawthorns and other trees were loaded with berries; and a chiffchaff was seen back at the car park.
// posted by Christine @ 1:27 PM 
