Hawfinch delight!
Spring continues apace with snowdrops flowering, catkins appearing on Hazel trees and birdsong being more noticeable in the mornings.
Bird of the Week
The Hawfinch is a large finch, its most striking feature being its powerful, oversized, cone-shaped bill. Its diet includes fruits and insects, but that powerful beak really comes into its own when breaking into the kernels of cherries!
My Birding this week
I generally have a full birding day once every weekend if chores don’t get in the way.
So far in February I’ve managed two birding days, and each have been planned to see a particular target species. On the first weekend of the month I visited Alresford watercress beds, a good location to see Green Sandpiper and, sometimes, Water Pipit. Unfortunately on this occasion the Water Pipit was absent, but I did see three Green Sandpipers, around 10 Meadow Pipits and watched Red Kites and Buzzards soaring together in the blue sky.
This last weekend I had my second birding day of the month.
Acting on information from my local RSPB group, we went to a churchyard in a small village about 20 minutes drive away to see the reported Hawfinch flock. Despite the weather forecast not predicting rain, it rained! Although the air temperature was cold, there was very little wind, which made it possible to hear the soft ‘piks’ of the Hawfinches. We only saw 2 or 3 birds instead of the 20 that had previously been reported, but we were thrilled as this is the closest to home we have ever seen Hawfinches, and only the second time for us in Hampshire.
After a pub lunch to warm up, we headed to Bransbury Common in north-west Hampshire for a late afternoon walk. Our targets were Redwing, Barn Owl and Yellowhammer which we had previously seen at the site, and we weren’t disappointed on this visit. We also added Fieldfare and Bullfinch, all first of year sightings!
With one weekend of February left, I am excited to see what additional species I will add to my year list.
Latest podcast episode
Sharing the beauty of Nature - Faraaz Abdool
Faraaz Abdool is a published wildlife photographer, writer, and international tour guide.
Hailing from Trinidad and Tobago, Faraaz's deep connection to nature led him to shift from a career in engineering to focus on wildlife and habitat preservation.
Through his work, Faraaz aims to evoke a sense of purity and connection to the natural world, encouraging others to embrace a mindful and observant approach to nature.
Having spoken to him many times online, I was delighted to finally meet him in person at Global Birdfair 2024 where he told me about his photography aesthetic and the rewards of slowing down to appreciate nature.
Recommendations and shout outs!
Why Do Birds Suddenly Disappear? 200 birds, 12 months, 1 lapsed birdwatcher
by Lev Parikian
A delightful book sharing Lev's quest to see 200 UK bird species in one year.
Finding an old bird ID guide, Lev realises the list of species he claimed to have seen as a child might not have been entirely accurate. He decides to rectify this by challenging himself to actually find those bird species.
But this wonderful book is not just about birds. Lev shares memories of his parents who fostered his love of the natural world and stories about the people he meets during his quest, all told with Lev's characteristic charm, wit and humour.
Reading this book brings back fond memories of a wonderful day spent birding with Lev where he introduced me to the Cetti’s Warbler. You can listen to that episode by clicking the button below.
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Until next week, happy birding!