Firecrests and Dartford Warblers

The poor weather and some commitments have prevented me from getting out for a few days, so today, I decided to get some exercise and do a loop of the commons walking from home.

A walk to Blackhill Quary first. Little of note on the water there, but a flock of 5+ Bullfinches in the woods on the path down was nice to see, though tricky to photograph!

A walk from the quarry across the common produced a distant skulking Dartford Warbler and small flocks of Redwing, Goldfinch, Siskin and Linnet.

A pair of Raven were displaying over Bystock Woods.


Bystock was quiet, though I found at least two (possibly three) Firecrests in the holly and ivy at the western edge of the reserve. They were very difficult to photograph; below is a terrible picture of one, but if you squint and use your imagination, you can see a supercilium!


A few Great Spotted Woodpeckers were active, and I found another skulking Dartford Warbler in some gorse on the reserve, as well as a couple of Goldcrests.

Unfortunately, I'm busy and away for the rest of this week, so I won't get out again until next week. A week closer to spring!


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