The Birding Column

On 7th February, during a spell of cold weather, I received a call from Rustic Mike, to say that he was watching a Red Kite circling over the fields behind Bedfords Fold. Not many minutes afterwards, I happened to glance out of our front window which overlooks Rose Lea Close, just in time to see a large bird with a forked tail, descending rapidly into our neighbour’s back garden. As quick as a flash it was off again, and my natural assumption was that it was looking for food. Curiosity getting the better of me, I put on my shoes and coat and walked across the lawn to see if I could see what may have interested the kite. There were no food scraps on the ground which puzzled me, but then I caught sight of an old discarded Teddy lying face downwards in the grass, presumably one discarded by Elsie or Poppy, or even one of Woody’s perhaps? Then the penny dropped, when I remembered the unusual habit kites have of adorning their nests with soft toys! The most memorable one I can recall was a pink donkey, which had been woven into the wall of the nest, in a nest not far from here. Maybe it will return, although a large teddy bear might be a bit heavy for a puny kite, which whilst being the UK’s third largest nesting raptor, is mainly bone and feathers!

The icy temperatures continued through February, and a Great Egret, which is bigger than a Grey Heron appeared at Beal Locks on the River Aire, where fish are plentiful and the water remained unfrozen.

A desperate Redwing appeared in our garden feasting on apples and pears, forsaking its normal feeding grounds that were hardened by days of frost. It snowed the following day, and our garden was popular with hungry Blackbirds.

Towards the end of February a rise in temperatures accompanied sunny skies, lifting the spirits of everyone, and apparently also those of our burgeoning local population of Common Buzzards with a group of seven birds circling contentedly over the woods and fields to the south of Hillam. I heard a very vocal Green Woodpecker with its strident yaffling laugh, as I crossed the field en route to Bywater Wood, hoping to hear my first Chiffchaff of 2021. I didn’t hear one, but I did hear a Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming it’s bill against a tree trunk in the far reaches of the wood and once again the Green Woodpecker with its yaffling laugh. I spent ages looking and listening, but the Green Woodpecker continued to elude me, seemingly becoming more distant, but then it seemed to return. Well I thought it did, but then a blonde lady with one of the loudest laughs I have ever heard appeared around a bend in the track, and gave a laugh which was a perfect mimic of a Green Woodpecker! After the calm was restored, a delicate silvery Tree Creeper appeared in front of me, climbing in its stuttering fashion its up the trunk of an oak. Strangely enough, I haven’t seen that many around here.

As I emerged from the wood, I watched two Roe Deer bounding across open ground towards Burton Salmon. It is such a shame that the deer are so heavily persecuted by these cruel poachers and their vicious dogs.

Continuing my walk, I paused by Burton Salmon Cricket Club to watch a group of very bright Yellowhammers, splitting off into their initial pairings, positioning themselves prominently on the bushes that line this short stretch of road. A flock of about fifty Pink footed Geese flew noisily in a northerly direction on their return migration.

On 28th February, Howard Ferguson emailed me to say that a flock of 16 Whooper Swans flew north over Maspin House at 17:00. This migration continued into March, peaking on around 21st March, when hundreds were observed in our part of the country.

The next day, I saw my first butterfly of 2021, with a bright yellow male Brimstone in the grounds of Sherburn Medical Centre. Ospreys are beginning to appear now, so keep looking skywards!