Another Visit to Bramfield Church

23rd December 2024

Time for another visit to Bramfield Church to see how the Hawfinches are getting on. I had only been there for five minutes when I heard one ticking and it eventually flew to one of the many Yew trees.

I saw it three or four times during my visit but only hidden behind multiple twigs at the top of the Limes, but here I managed a "just one twig" photo.

Their behaviour seems different this year. In previous years they would tend to fly in and perch at the tops of the Ash trees to the north of the churchyard giving good uninterrupted views, whereas this year they are spending more time in the Yews and amongst the twigs at the top of the Limes making life more difficult.

However the star of the show today was this beautiful male Yellowhammer. Yellowhammers are present in the surrounding hedgerows but this is the first time I have seen one in the churchyard.