Merlin photo by Graham CatleyLast week's most surprising sighting was a merlin. It broke all the rules when it was seen perching in a tree in the gardens. Merlins are small, speedy falcons specialised in hunting birds in wide-open spaces - not in gardens, but then The Lodge's garden are quite large! 

They breed in the uplands but at the time of the year they head for farmland, marshland and other such places. Our merlin was also seen flying over the heath where it looked more at home...

The trees and bushes around the gatehouse are filled with birds at the moment - especially redwings and blackbirds seeking out berries. Take a walk along the Ridge and you might also see fieldfares and mistle thrushes hunting for worms and bugs. As you pass through the woodland, you might make a woodcock jump and fly away with a start.

Keep an eye out for flocks of small birds at the tops of birches or alders at the moment. They could be siskins or lesser redpolls - tiny finches which specialise in eating the tiny seeds from those trees. Unlike the bigger greenfinches and chaffinches, the little ones are really quite agile and are quite happy to dangle upside down from the end of a spindly twig.

The firecrests haven't been seen for few weeks now, but they could well be lurking out there somewhere! Please let us know if you see them.

Peregrines, a raven and a red kite have been seen at The Lodge in recent weeks, so watch out for those big birds soaring overhead.