Birds seen at Marshfield in 2008

This morning at Marshfield; several Whitethroats still singing, at least 2 Quail on Down Lane left hand side, 1 Spotted Flycatcher at Shirehill and Little Grebe still on pond. Also  lots of Swallows today. (John Barnett)

24th:

News of our morning round at Marshfield. Usual good numbers of singing Skylarks, Corn Buntings, Yellowhammers, Linnets, Whitethroats and Dunnock plus a good number of Greenfinch and one Red Legged Partridge, all seen on Tormarton Road/Rushmead Lane. Along Broadmead Brook valley east of the re-opened (sadly!) Tormarton Road; 3 Spotted Flycatchers, Nuthatch plus young ones, also a Little Grebe on the pond. (Len Ingram & Don Smith).

23rd:

A lovely sunny, still afternoon on the patch with the usual collection of Skylark, Corn Bunting, Yellowhammer and Common Whitethroats all singing and all carrying food items. Also a Hobby around the Rushmead Lane/ Tormarton Road area.

21st:

A single Quail was heard singing in Rushmead Flash field at 16:40 this afternoon at ST: 785 753 on the corner of Rushmead Lane and Tormarton Road. (Darren Pearce)

20th:

Still lots of Skylarks, Yellowhammers, Corn Buntings and three Whitethroats singing in the area. Two Grey Partridge in the field at the east end of Rushmead Lane, also Quail calling there. (John Barnett)

11th:

First sightings in Tormarton Road  were Skylarks, Corn Buntings and a very friendly Pied Wagtail  that presented for a photo shoot.  Plenty of Yellowhammers and Linnets at Rushmead Lane bushes. In West Littleton Road at Broadmead Brook families of Mistle Thrushes and Long Tailed Tits were seen along with a Chiffchaff and Wren chorus. A Red Kite suddenly appeared above the hill from the south, drifted for a minute before rising high into the upper clouds and disappeared. A lovely sight, indeed! Northfield Lane offered a brief sighting of 2 Red Legged Partridge plus more Yellowhammer and Linnets, we went home happy! (Don Smith & Len Ingram)

Red Kite at Marshfield. June 2008.  © Len Ingram.

10th:

Still all very quiet this morning: Two Lapwing and a couple of young Pied Wagtails in the pig field at Rushmead farm. A Quail was calling in the field opposite the house 200 metres north of Rushmead Farm. (John Barnett)

8th:

A single Quail was heard singing this afternoon around 16:00 between Plough Farm and Shirehill Farm at ST: 792 763.

7th:

Things appear to have settled in for the summer; Still plenty of Corn Bunting, Skylark, Yellowhammer etc. Highlights this morning included five Raven, four Lapwing and a family party of two adults and four juvenile Pied Wagtail at Rushmead Lane/ Farm. Also in the area generally were Stock Dove, Common Whitethroat, Goldfinch and a number of juvenile Starlings.

1st:

Four Ravens greeted me at Northfield Lane as did the songsters, Corn Bunting 'jangling', Skylarks in full song, Yellowhammers looking resplendent, very smart Linnets even House Martins getting in on the act; they are pictured below were collecting mud from one of the puddles in the lane. Around six Common Whitethroat holding territory, six or seven 'off duty' Lapwings and a solitary Grey Partridge around Rushmead Farm.

A summer male Black Redstart was heard singing from Culverslade Chicken Farm buildings this evening at around 20:30 from the Tormarton Road. (John Barnett)

A bit of a repeat of yesterdays sightings really with just five Raven and ten Buzzard at Northfield Lane. At Rushmead Farm a flyover Hobby was supported by Wheatear.

29th:

At lunchtime today there were eight Ravens over Northfield Lane along with c. 25 Buzzard, singing Corn Bunting, Common Whitethroat and several hundred Swifts, Swallows and House Martins.

27th:

This afternoon at Northfield Lane there were two Grey Partridge and a female Wheatear. Rushmead Lane held Yellowhammer, Common Whitethroat and Corn Bunting all in full song. After recent heavy rain there were several small pools worth checking and at Rushmead Farm one such pond had a couple of Lapwing and three Ringed Plover!

Ringed Plover at Rushmead Farm. May 2008. © Martyn Hayes.

21st:

Kicked off a day on the patch with Sparrowhawk, two Grey Partridge, Hobby and Quail calling from Northfield Lane. This afternoon, at least two Quail calling from the Tormarton Road site (see below) with one either side of the road. Also there, two Hobby, two Grey Partridge and Sparrowhawk.

20th:

Early afternoon at Marshfield: At least three Quail calling from the loosely sown Charlock 200 metres south of Rushmead Farm plus Hobby, several Buzzard and Red Kite. (Rob Laughton)

Red Kite at Marshfield. May 2008. © Rob Laughton.

19th:

I was on the patch just after 08:30 and was greeted on Tormarton Road by a Red-legged Partridge calling from the top of the water tank, then the second on the wall of the field after the allotments. Skylarks, Yellowhammers, Meadow Pipits and Corn Buntings were about the lane in song. In the field of Charlock - Sinapis arvensis on east side of road opposite the chicken farm, I heard the distinct call of Quail. They (if more than one) appeared fairly close to the road, although alas no sighting. There were Common Whitethroat at Rushmead Lane on 'Rough Ground' and a male Blackcap seen and in full song near Broadmead Brook off West Littleton Road. (Don Smith)

Red-legged Partridge at the Allotments and Common Whitethroat on 'Rough Ground'. May 2008. © Don Smith.

18th:

Highlights from an early morning visit produced Hobby, c. 25 Stock Dove and Wheatear in and around Rushmead Lane and the briefest snatch of Quail singing in loosely sown Charlock 200 metres south of Rushmead Farm on the east side of Tormarton Road around 09:30.

17th:

Not a lot around today however, still 50+ Stock Dove present at Rushmead Farm and a Whinchat on the manure heaps on Tormarton Road near Harcombe Farm entrance. (John Barnett)

16th:

The usual suspects were on show this morning; Lots of Skylark and Yellowhammer, several Stock Dove, Linnet and half a dozen Common Whitethroat all around Northfield Lane. On Rushmead Lane there were several Corn Bunting, a couple of male Pied Wagtails, a hand full of Red-legged Partridge and a very obliging Yellowhammer. So having put some new batteries in me 'box brownie'...! That brightened up a dull day.

Yellowhammer on Rushmead Lane. May 2008.  © Martyn Hayes.

14th:

There were at least four Spotted Flycatchers in the first 150 metres from the bridge repairs at Broadmead Brook heading east this morning and both Green & Great Spotted Woodpeckers were heard there. A Grey Partridge was flushed near Motocross Bushes. (Don Smith)

An impressive 152 Stock Doves were present in two locations today; 106 near Rushmead Farm and 46 on West Littleton Road. (Rob Laughton)

11th:

The highlight this morning; two Grey Partridge flushed from Northfield Lane around mid-day. Still plenty of Corn Bunting, Yellowhammer and Linnet generally. Up to six Common Whitethroats holding territories around the patch.

In addition there was another Garden Warbler south west of the village and a Hobby on the wide track east of West Littleton this afternoon. (John Barnett)

10th:

A Little Owl was seen near the derelict cottages on Rushmead Lane. Also,  10 Corn Buntings near Rushmead Farm, lots of Whitethroats singing along with Skylarks. A female Stonechat near Rushmead Farm. 20+ Yellowhammers and Linnets. A few Swallows and Pied Wagtails. 5+ Buzzards and lots of young Rooks. 4 Stock Doves, 2 Red Legged Partridge and 2 Pheasant. (Pete Coslett & Tony Vincent)

A Hobby flew up Broadmead Brook at 15:30 towards West Littleton. Also; Stock Dove 68,  Whitethroat 2, Yellowhammer 20+, Corn Bunting 10+, Mallard 2, Chiffchaff and Blackcap. (Rob Laughton)

9th:

Spotted Flycatcher male singing on the south side of Shire Hill before the road works this evening just before the heavy thunderstorms. Also; 50 Swallow, 20 House Martin, 20 Corn Bunting, Goldcrest, 2 Chiffchaff, 20 Yellowhammer, 4 Buzzard and 2 Whitethroat. (Rob Laughton)

Spotted Flycatcher at Shire Hill. May 2008.  © Rob Laughton.

8th:

The highlight from West Littleton Road, at the first bend off A420 was a pair of Grey Partridge in the field south of the allotment gardens, near the wall by the large shed. (Don Smith)

Ringswell Valley; a Garden Warbler singing and showing on & off, Lesser Whitethroat singing,  4 Common Whitethroat, Nuthatch, Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap and 2 Willow Warbler. In the Rushmead Lane area; 2 Common Whitethroat, 20+ Swallow, 5 House Martin, 2 Mallard on Rushmead Flash, 5 Stock Dove,  10 Corn Bunting and 20+ Yellowhammer. (Rob Laughton)

7th:

This mornings visit: The Corn Bunting on the wire along Northfield Lane, captured this morning's tone, birds singing everywhere in the appreciation of the warm day. On Tormarton Road, 2 Red Legged Partridge, 5 Stock Doves and many Skylarks. At Rushmead Lane corner; 15 Corn Buntings, 6 Yellowhammers, several Whitethroat, Linnets, Meadow Pipits, a Spotted Flycatcher and a Song Thrush. Several Chiffchaffs down by the road closure at Shirehill. In West Littleton Road and Northfield Lane; several Corn Buntings, 7 Buzzards and a Wheatear (F) from the latter. Swallows and House Martins in buildings off Hitchin Lane, possibly nesting. (Len Ingram & Don Smith)

Corn Bunting on Northfield Lane. May 2008. © Don Smith.

6th:

Marshfield this morning; 1 Garden Warbler singing and showing well on the track to Ringswell Valley. 4 Lesser Whitethroat (1 singing 3 unusually seen fighting presumably over territory's), 1 Nuthatch, 2 Great spotted Woodpecker, 3 Willow Warbler, 2 Common Whitethroat and a Wheatear along West Littleton Road. (Rob Laughton)

5th:

Lots of Skylark, Corn Bunting and Yellowhammer around this morning. A female Whinchat was at Northfield Lane along with six or seven Wheatear as well as plenty of Swallows, House Martins and Swifts. Up to five Common Whitethroat were singing along the various tracks north of the village. To the south of the village a Garden Warbler by the path down from the skate park along the path down to the stream. Also Whitethroat and Lesser Whitethroat at Ringswell  plus lots of Willow Warblers. (John Barnett)

Whinchat on Northfield Lane. May 2008. © Rob Laughton.

At Marshfield today; 7 Wheatear, 56 Stock Dove in one flock north of Rushmead Farm, 55 Corn Bunting (including 15 singing males), 1 Sparrowhawk (male),  20+ Swifts,  10 House Martin,  5 Common Whitethroat and 20+ Yellowhammer. (Rob Laughton)

3rd:

At least 15 Wheatears seen, 6 in fields by Rushmead Farm, 4 in fields along Rushmead Lane and the rest along the West Littleton Road. An excellent male Whinchat behind the chicken farm on Rushmead Lane. A few Whitethroats by Rushmead Farm, lots of Skylarks singing and a few Corn Buntings. 20+ Yellowhammers and 22 Stock Doves in fields behind Rushmead Farm. 5 Buzzards, 10+ Herring Gull and Lesser Black-backed Gull. Many Swallows, Linnets and a few Pied Wagtails. Greenfinch, Chaffinch and Goldfinch seen and all the usual corvids. (Pete Coslett & Tony Vincent)

1st:

A fairly slow start to May on the patch; A Wheatear female (Rushmead Lane), 2 Corn Bunting, 20 Yellowhammer and 5 Swallows.

APRIL:

30th:

Totals this morning from Marshfield were; 3 Wheatears along West Littleton Road (2 females, 1 male), 2 Whitethroat (Rushmead bushes), 10+ Swallow, 1 House Martin (collecting mud on West Littleton Road), 20+ Corn Bunting, 30+ Yellowhammer and 6 Buzzard. (Rob Laughton)

29th:

A Red Kite was at Marshfield at 14:20 in flight over the junction of High Street and the A420 near Green Lane. Heading south-west it was then seen over Cold Ashton drifting towards Swainswick Valley. Also today 20 Corn Bunting, 10 Chaffinch, 20 Yellowhammer and 3 Bullfinches. (Rob Laughton)

Red Kite at Marshfield. April 2008.  © Rob Laughton.

28th:

Today at Marshfield there were 2 Wheatear (West Littleton Road), 1 Whitethroat,  21 Corn Bunting, 1 Marsh Tit (Ringswell), 10 Yellowhammer, 2 Swallow and 10+ Skylark. (Rob Laughton)

27th:

Very pleasant on the patch this morning, along Northfield Lane there were at least five Wheatear, plenty of Skylarks, Corn Bunting and Yellowhammer and a very illusive Common Whitethroat. On Rushmead Lane three more Common Whitethroat, five Buzzard a collection of Linnets, Yellowhammer, Corn Bunting and Chaffinch and several Red-legged Partridge. Also a Peregrine was circling high over West Littleton Road.

Corn Bunting kind of epitomises birding at Marshfield. April 2008. © Martyn Hayes.

24th:

Marshfield this evening; 2 Grey Partridge (flushed from Northfield Lane then landed near Culverslade Farm), 2 Wheatear (1 Northfield Lane, 1 Rushmead Lane), 2 Raven,  40+ Yellowhammer,  4 Stock Doves and 8 Corn Bunting. (Rob Laughton)

There was an unconfirmed report of a Red Kite in the Tormarton area today. The first House Martin for the year was seen along the West Littleton Road drinking from a puddle near 'Bunting Fields'  (Don Smith) and the first Lesser Whitethroat was seen in Doncombe Valley at 08:30. (John Barnett)

From Marshfield this morning: A male Pied Flycatcher (Motocross Bushes) ST: 775 755. It looks like an adult male, its pre breeding moult is still not complete as it is still retaining some brown/grey feathers on the primaries, wing coverts and alula. Also today 12 Corn Bunting, 1 Mistle Thrush, 20+ Skylark, 30+ Yellowhammer, 2 Blackcap, 11 Willow Warbler and 10+ Red legged Partridge. (Rob Laughton)

Pied Flycatcher at Motocross Bushes. April 2008.  © Rob Laughton.

1 Yellow Wagtail (very low over Rushmead Barns, almost landed but thought better of it and carried on north) 4 Wheatear (3 Rushmead Lane, 1 Northfield Lane), 12 Stock Dove, 200+ Fieldfare, 50 Swallow,  1 Great Spotted Woodpecker (Rushmead Lane), 2 Mistle Thrush, 10+ Willow Warbler,  10+ Corn Bunting and 30+ Yellowhammer. (Rob Laughton)

Also in the afternoon 5 Wheatear on Rushmead Lane and another one on Northfield Lane. 2 pairs of Lapwing were over fields east of Rushmead farm - 1 displaying! (John Barnett)

A misty start to the day with the usual suspects in evidence. Corn Bunting, Yellowhammer and Skylark all in song along Northfield Lane. On Rushmead Lane there were two Wheatear, several Sand Martin's, ten Stock Dove  and a Common Whitethroat. At Rushmead Farm still around 200 Linnets. Also this morning and south of the village there was a Tree Pipit over the cricket pitch. In the afternoon things brightened noticeably when John Barnett found a female Pied Flycatcher 200 metres along Broadmead Brook.

Pied Flycatcher at Broadmead Brook. April 2008. © Martyn Hayes.

16th:

Marshfield today; A male Wheatear male and three singing Corn Buntings were seen along Northfield Lane. Also present were 3 Stock Dove, 20+ Skylark, 22 Linnet, 15+ Meadow Pipit, 80+ Yellowhammer (a flock near Rushmead Barns), 5 Raven, Willow Warbler, Kestrel and 8 Buzzards. (Rob Laughton)

At Marshfield today there were 2 Tree Pipits low over Rushmead/Orchid Lane calling, 10 Corn Bunting, 30 Yellowhammer, 10 Skylark, 23 Meadow Pipit and 6 Buzzard. (Rob Laughton)

On Sunday not much really. 6 Bullfinches in Doncombe Valley plus 6 Jays, 3 Willow Warblers and a male Brambling singing! On the pond below West Littleton there was a Little Grebe! (John Barnett)

At Marshfield this lunchtime: 3 Swallows, 4 Corn Bunting, 20+ Yellowhammer, 2 Red-legged Partridge and 30+ Skylark. It's gone a bit quiet now, no sign of any migrants. (Rob Laughton)

At Marshfield today around the Rushmead & Northfield Lane area: 40+ Meadow Pipit, 30+ Skylark, 20+ Chaffinches, 30+ Yellowhammer, 4 Singing male Corn Bunting, 3 Pied Wagtail and 4 Buzzard. (Rob Laughton)

The bizarre sight of four Swallows in a snow shower greeted me on the patch this afternoon..! Fifteen Pied Wagtail and two White Wagtails were on Northfield Lane plus around 30 Skylark (strange seeing them in flight song in the snow too...!) 20 Meadow Pipits and a couple of Corn Bunting. On Rushmead Lane around 50 Yellowhammer, up to ten Ravens and around 100 Linnets still.

A Barn Owl was seen along the West Littleton Road at around 06:45 and a Green Woodpecker flew over. (Rob Laughton)

A quiet day today, however there were still five Brambling calling just beyond the skate park in the tall trees at Withymead Playing fields, they seem to stay mostly at the top of the trees, also two Mallard in Doncombe Valley along with two Blackcap singing. There were two Wheatear on Rushmead Lane still. (John Barnett)

Several Swallows and Sand Martins were passing through today over Rushmead & Northfield Lanes. A Raven was near the top of Orchid Lane, around 50 Yellowhammers were in ploughed fields on Rushmead Lane and c.200 Fieldfare were in flight east there. South of the village there were several Bullfinch and a singing male Blackcap in Doncombe Valley. (John Barnett)

At around 21:15 this evening on the Tormarton Road near Marshfield a Barn Owl was seen hovering at the road side. (Cheryl Martin)

A Short-eared Owl was seen in flight over Rushmead Lane and then east of Orchid Lane at Marshfield at around 18:30. Also there were around 50 Yellowhammer, 10 Corn Buntings and no end of Red-legged Partridge. Two Raven were noted in flight over Northfield Lane plus Merlin. (Rob Laughton)

Red-legged Partridge at Rushmead Lane. April 2008. © Martyn Hayes.

29th:

29th:

A Brambling was seen in John's garden in Marshfield today! And a few are still at Withymead Playing Fields. Around 180 Golden Plover were over the fields off the A420 opposite Marshfield School. (John Barnett)

At Marshfield this morning there were c.60 Golden Plover in fields north of Marshfield School along with 44 Lapwing and c.350 Golden Plover over Westend later. 8 Stock Dove Rushmead Lane, Skylark 60 in potato field at Northfield Lane with 2 Stonechat on Culverslade dump, and in the hedgerows in fields north of this area there were 10 Corn Bunting, 100+ Yellowhammer; also 15 Corn Bunting at Rushmead Flash. There were still 35 Brambling at Withymead Playing Fields. (John Barnett)