The day dawned bright with calm conditions, however, the promise of deteriorating conditions became evident as the morning wore on, the calm conditions saw an increase in wind to a light southerly with leaves flickering in the breeze, later moderate gusts and increasing high cloud foretell of how the day was to become.
Today was the final day of counting for the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trusts Big Farmland Bird Count for 2025, and it was to be a good one. I chose my position with a variety of habitats in order to gather a good variety and count of bird species. I overviewed a large recently turned field with a large game strip comprising brassicas and Linseed, field boundary hedgerows, broadleaved woodland, mature Scots Pine woodland, and distant heathland.
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| 23 February 2025. My view for todays final Bird Count for the GWCT 2025 |
Some common bird species usually associated with this habitat were present in low numbers, or indeed absent. Notably, Chaffinches, usually present in three figure counts at this location were seen in single figure counts or low double-figure counts only, but the most notable absentee was Brambling, with non seen during the count period, although prior to the count I did see single-figure counts only.
The highlights for todays count was the following:
4 Woodlarks (Pair + 2 singing and displaying males)
1 Raven - watched flying west over the woodland in left of above picture (Calling)
Curlew - 2 singing males (my first returning birds of the year)
300+ Linnets - wandering the large field
The birds seemed to know this was my final day of counting for the GWCT, especially with my first record this year of displaying Curlews on the patch, also, the sky was occupied by many displaying Skylarks along with another highlight, the presence of 4 Woodlarks (pair + 2 singing males), sometimes directly above me. These Woodlarks were visiting the field to feed, they will probably breed on a nearby heath or forest clearing.
A single Raven was watched flying west over woodland and heathland until lost to view. Calling was frequently heard. I am so pleased to see Ravens quite regularly on the patch now.
Both Fieldfare and Redwings were present, this included 50+ Redwings high in distant woodland, despite the distance I could see the beautiful head pattern of this Thrush.
Common Thrush species were represented by two singing Mistle Thrushes, singing Song Thrush (a pair seen fly past me) and a number of Blackbirds, including 3 together high in trees in woodland.
The large field shown above held a large wandering flock of 300+ Linnets moving to and fro over the land and dropping to the ground to feed. Often, I could see this large wandering flock of Linnets with Skylarks singing above along with the beautiful sweet song of Woodlark.
The only raptors seen today was a single Kestrel in a Hawthorn within heathland habitat, a single Red Kite over woodland, and a single Buzzard.
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