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Brambling. For more
information about this bird visit the RSPB website |
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We have had an
early taste of winter during November, and if the weather
people are correct, we can expect more of the same
throughout the coming months.
I was lucky enough to be out of the country on holiday during the first 10 days
of November, so missed all of the storms and heavy rain that hit the area,
but it has had a positive effect in birding terms.
I believe those storms were the remnants of hurricane Wilma, which hit
Florida in October, and the strong winds moving across the Atlantic helped
push a number of American bird species our way.
Several Waders and Gulls, including a number of Laughing Gulls and Ring Billed
Gulls, have been seen quite close to us, though I have not heard of any reports
directly from the Fawley area.
November was generally a fairly quiet month for interesting birds. The last few
summer migrants passed through early in the month, though numbers of winter
migrants have continued to build. I personally came across a very large Finch flock
between Lepe and Exbury on the 29th, which included Goldfinch,
Chaffinch, Linnet and Greenfinch.
I then noticed a Brambling amongst them, then another,
and another.
In the end, I estimated there were at least
50 and possibly as many as 100. It was hard to be precise
as they were constantly on the move.
Bramblings arrive
from Scandinavia every winter in varying numbers, and early
reports this year suggest it is looking like there are
a lot of them around.
They usually eat fallen beech seeds
and berries, which seem to be thin on the ground this year,
which is forcing them into our area in larger numbers.
There have been several reports of Bramblings visiting
gardens in Hampshire. They are an attractive bird, a bit
like a chaffinch but with an orange chest and white rump,
and will readily eat any seeds that you put out.
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| Fawley Powerstation |
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Other highlights in November included Bearded Tits at Calshot,
Black Redstart by Fawley power station, and a White Stork
was seen landing in fields somewhere near Exbury on the
26th. Nearby there was a Snow Bunting at Keyhaven.
Looking ahead to December, we can expect to see more
large Finch flocks in the country, and they are always
worth checking carefully to see if anything unusual
is with them. You might find Yellowhammer, Reed bunting,
Twite, Siskin and Redpoll, plus any of the rarer Bunting
family.
If you are at the coast, look out to sea and you might
come across Red breasted Merganser, Eider duck, Divers,
Grebes and Scoters. Inland waters might produce Goosander,
Smew or even Bittern, particularly if the weather does
turn very cold.
Often in winter birds come to England to
escape any severe winter temperatures in Holland and other
parts of the near continent, so as always, its true to
say that anything could turn up!
You should also be feeding your garden birds daily now.
With the very short days and often poor weather, there
is less time available for birds to find enough food.
It
looks like there are relatively few berries on the trees
this year so natural food is harder to find, so our
birds risk starvation or not having the energy to keep
warm unless we help them out a bit. Peanuts, Sunflower
seeds, and fat products are ideal foods to offer them at
this time of year.
And, finally, I would like to thank everyone for reading
this column, and for your comments and bird sighting reports,
and I hope you all have a good Christmas and Happy New
Year.
Let’s hope 2006 proves to be a good birding year.
Paul Matthews |
