December has continued, much as November left off, bird wise with no really cold weather to drive birds this far south. There has been a general lack of Fieldfares and Redwings and on a recent survey walk Bullfinches (7) outnumbered Fieldfares (6). Birds of prey have been fewer, probably because there isn’t the normal volume of prey available. However there has been a Kestrel on Kenn Moor and another along Wemberham Lane, Yatton, which I saw capture a small mammal from its telegraph pole perch, albeit it flew about 60 metres to make its kill. It does demonstrate that they have fantastic eyesight.
The first Woodcock of the winter was in Littlewood, along with Treecreeper, Great Spotted Woodpecker and a flock of Goldfinches.
The Dunlins at the sea wall increased to at least 1,500 and Bryan Thompson watched a Merlin harrying them ;- a good spot as there have been hardly any raptors there either.
400 Lapwings were a nice sight with half a dozen Golden Plovers flying with them.
I have just received a report of Redpolls in a Claverham garden and our garden has Blackcap, Bullfinches and this morning a Great Spotted Woodpecker and the birds are feeding furiously.
To conclude with some information from Bird Atlas, over the last 20 years Magpies have increased their distribution by 0.04% and there has been a slight decline in abundance in Somerset. They are much more numerous in the home counties.
If you would like information on any particular species, please get in touch , and I will try to oblige.
Trevor Riddle 01934 835208
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