First Hawfinch of the Winter at Bramfield Churchyard

10th January 2026

I photographed my first Hawfinch at Bramfield Churchyard in 2013. It had always been assumed the Hawfinches that over-wintered here were continental birds, but one of the first birds I photographed was wearing a colour ring which was traced to a ringing scheme in the Forest of Dean!!!

Today the weather was very dull, so rather than having a days photography at the coast I thought I would check out the churchyard for Hawfinches. In my experience, although they have on occasions been recorded there before Christmas, they tend to arrive in mid-January so my timing was ideal.

As I walked into the churchyard I could see a suitable candidate sitting near the top of their favourite Ash tree behind the church and a quick look through the bins confirmed that this was indeed a Hawfinch, the first record of the winter at Bramfield.

Not ideal for a photograph as the light was very poor and the bird was partially obscured by twigs, but with a little tender love and care didn't turn out too bad.

It flew to the central Lime trees that line the path but again partially obscured, and then flew off.

This was at 12.00pm and I saw it again at 12.30pm, but no more before I left at 2.30pm.

There seem to be relatively few Yew berries this winter compared with the bumper crops of Hawthorn and Holly berries, so we will have to see if it decides to stay or move on.

Also good to meet Dean Ballard.