In Search of Crossbills and Wood Larks

2nd March 2026

Off to Mayday Farm again for another go with the Crossbills and also try my luck with some Wood Larks. Another fine and sunny day with a gentle breeze so hopefully the Wood Larks will be in song flight. The first sign of spring was this lone specimen of Coltsfoot, not only one of the earliest flowers to appear, but flowers without leaves which grow when the flowers have finished.

Also nice to see a male Stonechat which is not a common bird here, and the first I have seen over my last few visits.

Also must remember it is now that time of year that Goshawks display over the woods here so I kept glancing skywards, and although I didn't see one I did manage to spot a cracking male Sparrowhawk which just circled lazily overhead.

So now for the Crossbills and I followed the same modus operandi adopted for Operation Crossbill (14th February 2026). This time I didn't bother trying to photograph the birds feeding high in the pines but waited until they were ready to drop down to the puddle. The puddle was drying out and had reduced from 15 sq ft on my last visit to barely 1 sq ft, and by tomorrow would have completely dried out. Here they are waiting for the puddle to be deemed safe.

And then they dropped down and luckily when they are drinking they are very confiding and these shots were taking at a range of just 10-15 yards.

So now for the Wood Larks. I didn't hear any while walking up to the Crossbill puddle but could hear a couple singing in the general area as I approached. Initially the songs were very half-hearted and intermittent which normally means they are singing from the ground, but then one went into full song flight which provided a good indicator of the area.

After a bit of investigation I found a pair feeding on the short sward and was able to get some shots.

This bird was singing on the ground.

One of the best ways of identifying a Wood Lark on the ground is that the supercilia or eye-stripes meet behind the head.

Then I tried my luck at photographing one in song flight, a little dot about 50 yards above me.

Only managed some record shots but worth the arm and neck ache!!!

Well what a fantastic morning and now on to a pond in another part of Mayday Farm to try my luck with Redpolls and Siskins, so........................

..........................................................WATCH THIS SPACE!!!!!!

The Redwings Have Arrived

28th February 2026

Redwings are winter visitors that normally arrive in the UK in late September/early October but this winter the vast majority didn't arrive until the New Year. This winter the UK has had a bumper crop of all berries due to the very wet spring and hot summer and I suspect that Scandinavia has had the same so therefore the birds didn't travel south until they had exhausted their own crop.

But they are here in good numbers now and can be seen everywhere feeding on their favourite Ivy berries. Luckily I looked out of the window this morning and saw 5-10 Redwings feeding on our Ivy-covered Hawthorn tree. It was difficult to get a precise count as many were inside the Ivy.

Now this is my kind of photography where you can make a cup of tea, sit in the lounge and hang your camera out of the window. Sadly the light was very poor so the shutter speed wasn't fast enough for the action shots, but you can't have everything.

I've had worse mornings!!!!

An Hour in the Purfleet Hide

24th February 2026

I had an hour to spare so what better way to spend it than in the Purfleet Hide at Rainham Marshes on a bright sunny day. As I walked up the steps to the visitor centre I was welcomed by the resident House Sparrows and a rather smart Starling.

The Starling in particular was rather magnificent with its iridescent plumage positively glowing in the afternoon sun. They really are an under-rated bird. This is an adult male due to the very fine arrow-shaped streaks on the breast and the blue at the base of the bill.

Once in the hide it was soon evident that after the recent rains the water levels were very high which together with a low tide meant there were no waders on the islands. This except for a couple of Snipe hunkered down in the vegetation, trying their best not to be seen.

Two species of diving ducks today, Tufted Duck and Pochard. There was a pair of Tufted Ducks but just a single male Pochard with that amazing red eye.

Of the surface feeders first up was the Teal and lovely to see all the ducks in their smart breeding attire.

Also plenty of Wigeon around today and starting to pair up for the breeding season.................

.....................and the males out in the middle fighting amongst themselves.

Wow, just look at the male Shovelers now.

The females of course are much duller so they are camouflaged on the nest in vegetation.

One of the males decided to have a bath with spray going in all directions..................

....................followed by the compulsory wing-flap.

Just look at the colours on the wing.

And finally my favourite duck the Pintail and here is your often initial view. You can see why they are called Pintails.

What an enjoyable hour.