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End of Year Walk and Start of Year Walk around Debenham, Suffolk.(In sunshine!)

TJS
02/01/2022 14:40

The year has ended here in Suffolk with mild and at least partly sunny weather and the New Year is starting just the same.

I went for a walk on New Years Eve just out of the back door about 400 yards to where at this time of year in the past I've seen Bullfinches, and this year was no exception. As soon as I got to the Hawthorne trees that they like I found a pair , then 4 or more. They were with a flock of up to a dozen Goldfinches so it was hard seeing which individuals were which at times.

On January 2nd I went on the same walk with my wife. After a short wait the Bullfinches were about again, at least 6 including 4 males.

We then carried on with our walk and saw what we assume is a Chiffchaff working it's way along a ditch by the path. We've never seen a Winter Chiffchaff before.

Then looking over a gate into woodland we saw a Treecreeper working It's way up a tree.

As we followed it up it lead us to a Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Then another Treecreeper trying to hide in another tree.

Then to finish off our short walk before lunch, our first decent view of Redwings (still no Fieldfares)

A good end to 2021 and a great start to 2022.

Happy New Year everyone,

Best Wishes,

Trevor

  • 02/01/2022 14:53
    lovely set of photos Trevor and how spectacular those bullfinches look with the blue sky background, really brings out the colour of the male. We actually had a surprise visit form a male bullfinch on our balcony last week who must have spotted the tit birds coming for treats so he grabbed a few sunflower hearts and headed back to the woodland. I've hardly seen any winter thrushes since my trip to Anglesey and not a single Fieldfare except at LM when I saw and heard a few in the distance, Well done spotting the TC as they are often hard to make out as they hide amongst the bark setting. Looks like you had a good NYE trip too so thanks for sharing.

    _____________________________________

    Regards, Hazel 

  • 02/01/2022 15:20
    No wonder you get such a variety of pics, Trevor, if the birds are showing you to other birds...talk about inside information!!
    I agree with Hazel, the male Bullies are sumptuous against the blue sky.
    Your chiffchaff (bearing in mind I am notoriously rubbish at ID's) seems to have pale legs...which my book says isn't right for a chiffchaff..... But everything else seems to fit.... so....what do I know?? lol

    Thanks for sharing your days!
    ps Rumour of sunshine here for my next day off....fingers crossed underfoot isn't a quagmire!
  • 02/01/2022 16:08
    We are so lucky with our Bullfinch's, we had 3 pair in some old fruit trees just below the flat window this morning The males were certainly showing off to the ladies and last year we had 9 young fledge between 4 pair This makes up for rarely seeing House Sparrows in the gardens.

    Pete

    Birding is for everyone no matter how good or bad we are at it,enjoy it while you can

  • 02/01/2022 16:24 in reply to Seaman
    Hi Pete,
    We rarely see the Bullfinches in the garden but they are very reliable just a short walk away eating Hawthorne buds but will disperse once the Hawthorne bushes start flowering and hardly be seen again until next winter.
    As for House Sparrows our garden is full of them, 30, 40 or more of them at the start of winter.
    Trevor
  • 02/01/2022 19:55
    Plenty of Hawthorn bushes around here but I haven't seen one Bullie, and what a bird to have so close to home, thanks Trevor for putting them up, fabulous photos. I think both male and female are stunning birds.

    Lot to learn

  • 05/01/2022 14:07

    You're right Trevor, I had missed this lovely thread, and those fabulous bullfinch photos, so thank you for sharing the link.

    As for the chiffchaffs, This last few days I've been hearing them around here, but nothing seen. I've still yet to make my first outing for 2022, things have been a bit busy here and depending on next weeks day surgery, I may be laid up for a couple of days.

    Mike

    Flickr: Peak Rambler

  • 05/01/2022 20:05 in reply to Mike B
    Thanks Mike,
    From past experience the Bullfinches will be about in the same trees until early March. We first saw them in January 2018 and every year since. We've lived here since 1999 and an elderly neighbour told us that the Bullfinches have always been there, so no points for observation in the past.
    Hope everything goes well for you next week and you can get your first 2022 trip under your belt soon.
    Best wishes,
    Trevor
  • 06/01/2022 17:38 in reply to TJS

    TJS said:
    Thanks Mike,


    From past experience the Bullfinches will be about in the same trees until early March. We first saw them in January 2018 and every year since. We've lived here since 1999 and an elderly neighbour told us that the Bullfinches have always been there, so no points for observation in the past.
    Hope everything goes well for you next week and you can get your first 2022 trip under your belt soon.
    Best wishes,
    Trevor

    You're welcome and thank you. I'm expecting it to be cancelled due to Covid and other seasonal issues, not that I will need a bed overnight, or I hope not. The recovery ward should be more than enough, once I've come around from the gen anaesthetic, had a cuppa, it'll be straight back home.

    Mike

    Flickr: Peak Rambler

  • 06/01/2022 17:51 in reply to Mike B
    Here's hoping you get sorted on schedule and not left waiting.
    Very best wishes,
    Trevor