Found the Great Grey Shrike was still present this evening despite the extremely gloomy conditions. This morning around 100 Golden Plover on the barley field, 2 lapwings in the rough meadows and 120 fieldfare and 30 redwings. Although in lesser numbers than those on the coast, the woodpigeons were headed north west today having been going south west the past 2 days.
Intrigued by the report from Velator regarding thrushes - I visited Shipley Bridge yesterday afternoon and found 3 flocks of fieldfare totalling about 250 birds (plus a single redwing). Previous experience here has found many many more than this and it would appear that they have been through the Avon Valley in big numbers already as all the rowans were totally stripped of berries - again previous experience is that they take these berries first and then move on with the hawthorns being taken by birds later in the winter. Question is where have they gone as few reports are coming from the coast - I should also mention that they seem to be in lower numbers on the Blackdowns compared with last year.
p.s. Still waiting my turn for a short eared owl!!
