An early year Sparrowhawk display

Into the sun  - a composite of 5 poor images of today's Sparrowhawk display.

At sunrise today, in brilliant sunshine high in the sky, a local female Sparrowhawk patrolled back and forth across the village making small stoops and climbs as she flew. When the bird lifted her wing high in display, it gave the appearance of a longer winged bird - more like a small Harrier.

Every spring I love to watch Sparrowhawks doing this, and its quite a bonus to see so early in the year.

I've photographed Spaarrowhawks' displaying before -

http://theshadoxhurstgarden.blogspot.co.uk/2011/04/sparrowhawk-spring-display-flight.html

Further afield, seven Marsh Harriers into roost at Walland Marsh, a fly-over Peregrine and two Buzzards to enjoy last night. In the reed bed, Bearded Tits and Water Rail called but were not to be seen.

Last Harrier into roost on Walland Marsh

About to flush a flock of Teal, an evening's dash by a Peregrine

Great Northern Diver in Scunthorpe

Great Northern Diver, about to make a very late dive to avoid the New year's day Jet-skiers

Back in my home town, a Great Northern Diver has been hanging around Ashbyville Lake for a week or so now. Despite the steelworks backdrop and lakeside jet-skiers narrowly missing squashing it, the bird seems in no rush to move on, much to the admiration of many visiting birders, myself included.

 Tata Steelworks overlooking Ashbyville Lake

Muscovy Duck, one of a pair by the lakeside showing-off in front of the G.N. Diver admirers

Roosting Waxwings, Shadoxhurst

Back playing football in the Shadoxhurst field this afternoon, with Lewis and friends, I could hear Waxwings calling in the distance for much of the time we were there. The weather was as wet and gloomy as ever making it impossible to spot them from afar.

Then at about 4.15 pm the birds were audibly much closer and calling strongly together. We quickly spotted the flock of at least 50 birds as they made a slow 'figure of eight' flight over the gardens of Molloy Road and then over the football field, before finally dropping into roost in gardens near the village pavillion. I'm pleased my son and friends saw them so well, all be it as silhouettes.

Boxing day Waxwings and Little Egret

Yesterday, I walked around the football field in lovely sunshine, but alas no Waxwings there. But there was a confiding FIeldfare sharing turf with a pair of Mistle thrushes. An hour later and the sky had turned grey, and I was driving up towards the post office when 20 Waxwings flew low over the roadside gardens. 

Today, a Little Egret has been stalking the flooded field behind the garden a nice bird to be ending the year with.

Fly-catching Waxwings

We received a phone call from friends in the village this morning to let us know that the Waxwings were still in their favourite hedgerow behind the Shadoxhurst football field. So off we went on a walk to find them- which didn't take long.  In the hour viewing the Waxwings, the twelve birds took little interest in the remaining Berries of Haws and Rose Hips, but instead were fly-catching insects. Whilst it was difficult to see what they were catching, it was a fine sight to see, the birds oblivious to our presence. The resident Starlings were also feeding in the same way and in the warm sunny air we could hear if not see the occasional hover fly whizz by.  No doubt, a mid-winter insect bounty is a more energy rich meal than fruit berries despite the energy expended in catching suitable prey.

Before watching the Waxwings we had a little walk in the woods close to Hornash Lane and were rewarded with a calling Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. This is I think our first record this year - and good to know that there is still one around. 

Elsewhere on our walk, a Kestrel preyed on half-drowned Earthworms forced to surface heavy soils flashed with rainwater.  Two Buzzards were never far away, and a party of Meadow pipits were feeding in the Scout field. 

Thank you to David and Daphinee for telling us about the 2 Little Egrets that have returned to the ditches around the village - unfortunately today, we didn't see them.  

The Waxwings are now into week 2 of their stay around Shadoxhurst and we have Apples in the gardenand two bushes, laden with Rose Hip Berries. Fingers-crossed they're going to find them soon.

Waxwings still in the village

Making the most of the late afternoon sunshine before the next wave of rain arrived, I joined a game of football with my son and his mates. Once again, it wasn't long before I could here a party of 12 Waxwings, trilling from a hedgerow beyond the field. I quickly whizzed around to tell some more bird loving neighbours, but sadly the birds were flushed by a Sparrowhawk.

More Shadoxhurst Waxwings

 Having put my neighbours in the village on 'Waxwing alert', it wasn't long before my friend Geoff, a resident in the next street, reported back to me that he'd had twelve Waxwings strip his Rowan tree of berries on Sunday. Geoff sent me a couple of pictures and is very excited that his 2 year old Rowan tree has provided such entertainment. Thanks for the pics Geoff!

In 20 years of living in Kent, I cannot remember a winter where Waxwings are turning up just about everywhere in our southern side of Kent.